Tonight is the Ducks' first matchup against the Coyotes this season, after having swept the season series last year (5-0) before the end of January.
Game Notes:
The Coyotes are coming off a win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in which Mikes Smith saved the day. After what can only be described as a rough start to the season for Phoenix Arizona, the Coyotes will be looking to turn their first three-game win streak.
The Ducks are coming off a surprising overtime loss to the Islanders. This is only the second game within the division for the Ducks. On the injury front, the Ducks are getting Getzlaf (flu), Andersen (leg tightness) and Bryan Allen (WHYYY) back. Bruce Boudreau said that Kyle Palmieri (ankle) should be back in about two weeks, and it is still unclear whether Corey Perry (flu) will be healthy enough to play. As we already know, John Gibson will be out at least six weeks with a groin injury.
The Coyotes are kind of a mess this season, and without Radim Vrbata – now in Vancouver – the scoring has really dried up. The Ducks should be able to win this game as long as they put in the same effort that they did in the second half of the game against the Islanders.
What Can We Learn From This Game?:
It should be obvious that the returns of Getzlaf and Andersen will improve the Ducks' fate, but it will be interesting to see how a week of rest has affected Andersen's stellar form. We will also see how the Ducks defense looks with what could possibly be combinations of Fowler-Stoner (cries), Lindholm-Beauchemin and Vatanen-Allen. If by some weird turn of events Fowler and Vatanen are still a pairing I will be shocked and disturbed that Allen and Stoner would have to be a pairing as well.
Watch out for the defense and hope that Andersen is truly ready to play another game because nobody wants to see our goalie combination be Jason LaBarbera and Igor Bobkov.
Fearless Prediction:
Corey Perry finds a way to score without actually being in the lineup. HE CAN'T BE STOPPED! (except by the flu).