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A much better start to a multi-game road trip this time around for the Anaheim Ducks, who overcame several significant stretches of "blah" to pick up their second consecutive road win after opening the season 0-5-1 away from Honda Center.
Last Games:
Ducks: Monday, 11/16 at Carolina. "Hagelin's Three-Point Night Powers Ducks To 4-1 Win Over Hurricanes"
Predators: Saturday, 11/14 vs Winnipeg. "Preds Punish Awful Jets"
Notes:
Ducks
While Carl Hagelin's three-point night against the Hurricanes received its due plaudits, also important to note was Ryan Getzlaf scoring his first goal of the season, albeit an empty netter. After going through just two stretches last season of five games without a goal the Ducks captain didn't score in his first 13 season season, the longest such spell since 2011-12 when he had droughts of 12, 14 (two times), and 17 games without denting the twine. Last year Getzlaf averaged 2.62 games between goals, so perhaps him finally seeing his first of the season go over the line this year means more production is on the way.
Frederik Andersen will get the start in net, having made 40 saves in the Ducks win against the Predators to begin the month. However in his last two starts he posted sub-.900 save percentages for only the second and third time this season. It'll have been five full days since Andersen last started, the second longest break in action he's had this season behind a seven day stretch between a 22 save performance in a home loss to Colorado on October 16 and making 27 stops in a loss at Minnesota on October 24. Andersen bounced back from his previous sub-.900 showing with a 32 save loss in St. Louis on October 29.
The Ducks have taken points in four of five games that have been part of back-to-backs thus far this season, earning seven of a possible ten points. Anaheim is on a three game winning streak in games in a back-to-back series, having swept their previous two-in-two with a home win over Columbus then shutting out San Jose the following night, and defeating Carolina yesterday.
Predators
It's been either feast or famine for Nashville on their current home stand, having gone 2-1-1 thus far while scoring 14(!) goals in the wins and just one in the defeats. The Predators began being shut out 4-0 by St. Louis, before bouncing back with a wild 7-5 win over Ottawa. Then it was a 2-1 overtime loss to Toronto before the most recent 7-0 mauling of Winnipeg in a penalty-filled affair. 12 different players have scored for the Preds over the home stand, with seven goals from the defense and just four coming on the power play.
In more 'Thank Goodness The Pacific Is Not Good', Nashville is currently in a wild card spot by virtue of just eight of their wins being in regulation having started 10-3-3. Granted, both they and the team they're tied in the standings with (Minnesota) have two games in hand on Central leader Dallas (28 pts) and second St. Louis (25 pts). Were current Pacific leader Los Angeles in the Central, they'd be in fifth place having played a game more than the teams immediately above them. The Ducks are just three points back of third place in the Pacific.
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Two hours before face off we'll have the game thread up, featuring the full Stat Pack, likely with expected lines, and of course your Numbers For Nerds.