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The Anaheim Ducks play the second of eight straight dwelling video games once they host the Seattle Kraken tonight (Dec. 23) on the Honda Center. In their ultimate recreation earlier than the brief Christmas break, the Ducks want to come out quick to keep away from falling behind.
Related: 4 Takeaways From Ducks’ Shutout Loss to Flames
Any good feeling coming from their latest victories over the New Jersey Devils (Dec. 17) and Detroit Red Wings (Dec. 18) was rapidly squashed with one of their worst performances this season in the loss to the Calgary Flames (Dec. 21). The Ducks now want to regroup quick and be prepared to play from the very first puck drop. Let’s preview the Kraken matchup by taking a look at storylines, personnel, and ways.
Ducks’ Start Will Reveal a Lot About Them
The Ducks weren’t prepared to play in opposition to the Flames. They surrendered a season-high 43 photographs, together with 25 in the second interval. They had three complete photographs of their very own in the third interval. They nonetheless await phrase on the severity of Leo Carlsson’s proper leg harm. And lastly, there’s nonetheless the truth that the Ducks have gained 3 times in an 18-game stretch. That’s a lot to digest for a younger crew.
A very good begin, nonetheless, can maintain them in the second and get rid of any remnants of the negativity and misfortune that surrounds them. Going into the Christmas break with a win will do wonders for his or her morale. Getting the primary objective and settling into their recreation plan is step one on their path to victory.
The Offense Needs a Jolt
Getting a win in opposition to the Kraken would require a full 180 flip offensively. Against the Flames, they had been shut out, sustained minimal offensive zone time, and by no means actually threatened at any level. They developed a good rhythm in opposition to the Devils and Red Wings by taking pictures the puck usually, shifting the puck properly, and taking the puck to the online. More of that shall be required.
Someone in the Ducks lineup wants to present that spark to get them going. Last week, Troy Terry and Adam Henrique had been the spark. Before he bought damage, Mason McTavish was usually the catalyst, as was Frank Vatrano. Trevor Zegras could return tonight; if he does, then maybe he’ll electrify an usually uninteresting and predictable offensive assault.
Ducks Player to Watch: Jamie Drysdale
Jamie Drysdale’s return to the lineup is one of the extra thrilling developments of an in any other case tough season for the Ducks on the ice. Tonight shall be his second recreation, fourth complete, after lacking the earlier 30 with an undisclosed harm. In the Calgary loss, he did what he does finest: skated with confidence, performed with poise, and facilitated offense from the defensive zone. It produced minimal offense for the Ducks, however that doesn’t solely lie at his ft.
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Expect extra ice time for Drysdale as he will get eased again into NHL motion. On the highest protection pairing with Cam Fowler, he shall be given ample alternatives to contribute offensively, and the Ducks will want him to just do that if they’re going to produce sufficient targets to win video games. There simply hasn’t been sufficient offense produced by the blue line this season, however the extra Drysdale is in the lineup, the extra doubtless it’s that offense from the protection will observe.
Honorable Mention: Ryan Strome
Ryan Strome began off the season red-hot however has gone ice-cold the final six weeks. After having 12 factors in the primary 12 video games of the season, he has solely six since mid-November. He got here into the season as one of the fellows that wanted to rebound if the Ducks had been going to enhance upon final 12 months. After providing some early-season hope, Strome has descended into common to below-average play at instances. Perhaps the return of McTavish would be the jolt that he wants personally to get going once more.
Kraken Player to Watch: Matty Beniers
The reigning Calder Trophy winner because the NHL’s Rookie of the Year, Matty Beniers has struggled this season. He presently sits at a minus-17, by far the worst on the Kraken roster, and has 5 targets and 16 factors in 34 video games. Not the sophomore marketing campaign that the Kraken, or anybody in the hockey neighborhood, for that matter, was anticipating. In truth, if we dare to examine his sophomore marketing campaign to that of McTavish’s, then the latter is properly forward of the previous.
Struggles apart, that is an efficient and extremely expert participant. He will burn the Ducks in the event that they don’t test him and stay conscious of his presence on the ice. He astonishingly hasn’t scored since Nov. 9, and has one level in his final six video games, however taking your eye off him might be what he’s relying on. Let’s see how the Ducks deal with Beniers tonight.
Keys to Victory
We know the trail to victory for the Ducks, and it’s moderately easy. If they don’t take penalties, their ability gamers present up, and their goaltender offers them a probability to win, then the Ducks can compete with anybody. We’ve seen it. The downside is, they not often get that three-piece mixture.
The Kraken aren’t the contending crew that they had been final season. They sit fifth in the Pacific Division and are struggling to keep afloat in a packed Western Conference. They are susceptible on protection and in objective, which ought to give the Ducks scorers – Terry, McTavish, Vatrano, Killorn – greater than sufficient probabilities to have a higher recreation than they did the opposite evening.
Prediction: Ducks Shake Off Flames Loss, Rebound with a Win Over Kraken
The Ducks have a winnable recreation in entrance of them. Their season up to now is full of video games they need to have gained however misplaced, and misplaced however ought to have gained. They are in a actual conundrum, and a matchup in opposition to a struggling crew just like the Kraken offers us a probability to see what variety of intestinal fortitude the Ducks have. Especially coming off such a poor efficiency.
I see the Ducks rebounding tonight. It’s their final recreation earlier than Christmas they usually’re at dwelling. Perfect alternative to put all of it on the road for 60 minutes and earn some days off. Expect the Ducks to get the win.
How do you see the Ducks doing in opposition to the Kraken? Sound off in the feedback under.
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