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Duck at Golden Knights, Jan. 14: Preview, lines, gamethread & how to watch

The Ducks open the season with a chance to prove they can contend.

By Sie Morley
Sam Steel #34 of the Anaheim Ducks skates with the puck during the game against the Vegas Golden Knights at Honda Center on February 23, 2020 in Anaheim, California. Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images

The Anaheim Ducks are ready to get this show on the road, opening their season against the Vegas Golden Knights tonight at T-Mobile Arena. Aiming for the postseason, the team isn’t rushing to get young stars Jamie Drysdale and, more surprisingly, Trevor Zegras, into the line up.

This series against Vegas is partly why. Since joining the Pacific (and for this season, the West) Division, the Golden Knights have earned a reputation for playing hard, physical hockey. When these teams clash, it’s quite literal.

But it’s not all sunshine and superstars in Sin City — ahead of the franchise’s fourth season, head coach Pete DeBoer faces line up decisions that are influenced by cap-compliance as much as the team’s needs on the ice. They’ll begin the season with 13 forwards and five defenders. Keegan Kolesar will be the odd man out up front, while Zach Whitecloud will cycle into the defense, while the top two pairs eat the majority of minutes.

If the Ducks are serious about getting into the postseason, they’ll have to contend with the best of the West, and on paper that includes the Golden Knights.

Lines

DUCKS

Rickard Rakell — Adam Henrique — Jakob Silfverberg
Isac Lundestrom — Ryan Getzlaf — Danton Heinen
Max Comtois — Sam Steel — Troy Terry
Nicolas Deslauriers — Derek Grant — Carter Rowney

Cam Fowler — Josh Manson
Hampus Lindholm — Kevin Shattenkirk
Jacob Larsson — Jani Hakanpaa

John Gibson
Ryan Miller

Expected Scratches: Sonny Milano

Injured Reserve: Brendan Guhle (knee), Max Jones (undisclosed)

GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Max Pacioretty — Chandler Stephenson — Mark Stone
Jonathan Marchessault — William Karlsson — Reilly Smith
Alex Tuch — Cody Glass — Nicolas Roy
William Carrier — Tomas Nosek — Ryan Reaves
Keegan Kolesar

Brayden McNabb — Alex Pietrangelo
Alec Martinez — Shea Theodore
Zach Whitecloud

Robin Lehner
Marc-Andre Fleury

Expected Scratches: None

Injured Reserve: None

How to Watch

Puck drop is at 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tonight’s game will be broadcast on NHL Network, AT&T Sportsnet Rockey Mountains, PRIME and Fox Sports San Diego and is available to stream through NHL.tv.

Follow along in the comments for live updates and reactions throughout the game!

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