GameThread: Anaheim @ Pittsburgh (10/15/16)

Projected Starting Line-Ups:

Forwards:

Nick Ritchie -- Ryan Getzlaf -- Corey Perry

Andrew Cogliano -- Ryan Kesler -- Jakob Silfverberg

Mason Raymond -- Antoine Vermette -- Nick Sorensen

Ryan Garbutt -- Chris Wagner -- Jared Boll

Defense:

Cam Fowler -- Josh Manson

Korbinian Holzer -- Sami Vatanen

Jacob Larsson -- Kevin Bieksa

Jonathan Bernier

John Gibson

Scratched: Emerson Etem, Clayton Stoner

Injured : Simon Despres (upper body), Rickard Rakell (abdomen), Nicolas Kerdiles(concussion), Nate Thompson (Achilles)

Penguins projected lineup

Forwards:

Chris Kunitz -- Evgeni Malkin -- Scott Wilson

Carl Hagelin -- Nick Bonino -- Phil Kessel

Conor Sheary -- Matt Cullen -- Patric Hornqvist

Tom Kuhnhackl -- Eric Fehr -- Tom Sestito

Defense:

Brian Dumoulin -- Kris Letang

Olli Maatta -- Trevor Daley

Ian Cole -- Justin Schultz

Marc-Andre Fleury

Mike Condon

Scratched: Derrick Pouliot

Injured : Sidney Crosby (concussion), Matt Murray (broken hand), Bryan Rust(undisclosed)

Game Notes

Looking to avoid starting the season 0-2 for the second straight year, the Ducks face a tough challenge in the 2016 Stanley Cup Champion Penguins. After playing only 32 games last season, Simon Despres looks to be out for an extended period again after leaving in the 2nd period during the opener in Dallas. Jonathan Bernier looks set to make his regular season debut with the Ducks following a .800 SV% performance from John Gibson Thursday night. The Ducks have lost 5 of their 6 previous games against the Pens, although lets hope they’re able to capitalize on Sidney Crosby not being in the lineup tonight. LETS GO DUCKS!!!