Despite taking away just one point from two games against the Vegas Golden Knights, the Anaheim Ducks are starting to take shape into something that resembles competitive.
What has Ducks fans vaguely optimistic, while also sitting at eighth in the West Division after the opening series? Max Comtois is a pretty big part of it, scoring the team’s first three goals of the season, a first in franchise history, and only the 15th player to do so in NHL history.
Of course, those three goals have been Anaheim’s only goals. Which is a pretty big problem, if no one else steps up, but it hasn’t been for lacking of trying from the rest of the Ducks’ roster. They’ve faced two good goaltenders in Vegas’ Marc-Andre Fleury and Robin Lehner. Rickard Rakell and Nicolas Deslauriers, though, currently lead the team in shots on goal. The depth scoring is coming.
Sonny Milano will make his season debut for the Ducks tonight. The 24-year-old forward was acquired at the 2020 trade deadline and appeared in nine games with the Ducks last season, putting up two goals and three assists. The Ducks will be hoping he adds a scoring touch to the second line.
The Minnesota Wild are coming off near identical comeback wins against the Los Angeles Kings. In both games, the Kings largely out-played the Wild, but collapsed after a 3-1 lead to eventually lose in overtime. Rookie Kirill Kaprizov is a one-man game-changer, but goaltending is a huge weakness for the team. They won’t be making any lineup changes from their series against LA.
Lines
ANAHEIM DUCKS
Rickard Rakell — Adam Henrique — Jakob Silfverberg
Sonny Milano — Ryan Getzlaf — Danton Heinen
Max Comtois — Sam Steel — Troy Terry
Nicolas Deslauriers — Derek Grant — Carter Rowney
Hampus Lindholm — Kevin Shattenkirk
Cam Fowler — Josh Manson
Jacob Larsson — Jani Hakanpaa
John Gibson
Ryan Miller
Expected Scratches: Andy Welinski, Isac Lundestrom, Ben Hutton
Injured Reserve: Brendan Guhle (knee), Max Jones (lower body)
MINNESOTA WILD
Zach Parise — Victor Rask — Kirill Kaprizov
Marcus Johansson — Nick Bonino — Kevin Fiala
Jordan Greenway — Joel Eriksson Ek — Marcus Foligno
Nico Sturm — Nick Bjugstad — Ryan Hartman
Jonas Brodin — Jared Spurgeon
Ryan Suter — Matt Dumba
Carson Soucy — Greg Pateryn
Cam Talbot
Kaapo Kahkonen
Scratched: Gerald Mayhew, Brad Hunt
Injured: Marco Rossi (upper body), Alex Stalock (upper body), Mats Zuccarello (arm surgery)
How to Watch
Puck drop is at 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET at Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Tonight’s game will be broadcast regionally on Fox Sports North, Fox Sports Wisconsin, Fox Sports San Diego and PRIME and is available to stream through NHL.tv.
Follow along in the comments for live updates and reactions throughout the game!