The Ducks are looking to get back on the right track against the Nashville Predators. The Ducks have dropped their last two results and are 3-6-1 in their last 10 games.
Anaheim is coming off two back-to-back losses against the Washington Capitals and Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Predators have won four consecutive games and are coming in well-rested after their 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks on Mar. 11.
The previous matchup between the Ducks and Predators on Jan. 25 went to the Ducks, who won 5-2. Mason McTavish had two goals in that game, one of them being a power play tally.
“It was a good game for us,” McTavish said. “I think we capitalized on our chances. I think we’d like to tighten it up a little bit, it was a little bit open for both teams. They’ve got a lot of guys that can score, so we’re gonna have to be on our A-game.”
“It was a wide open game,” Ducks head coach Greg Cronin said. “It was kind of back and forth, (the Predators) play that way. They’re going to get the D up into the play and I think they’re a good team offensively, the metrics are really good. They’ve got a lot of offensive weapons, so we better be prepared to defend.”
Sam Colangelo and Ross Johnston will not dress tonight after the Ducks announced that both are day-to-day with upper-body injuries. Forward Nikita Nesterenko was recalled in a corresponding move and will likely play on a line with McTavish and Cutter Gauthier. Nesterenko has appeared in seven games this season for the Ducks, putting up two points (one goal, one assist).
Ducks Projected Lines
Frank Vatrano – Ryan Strome – Troy Terry
Trevor Zegras – Leo Carlsson – Alex Killorn
Cutter Gauthier – Mason McTavish – Nikita Nesterenko
Jansen Harkins – Isac Lundeström – Brett Leason
Jackson Lacomboe – Radko Gudas
Olena Zellweger – Jacob Oven
Pavel Mintyukov – Drew Helleson
Lukáš Dostál (Projected)
Predators Projected Lines
Steven Stamkos – Ryan O’Reilly – Luke Evangelista
Filip Forsberg – Colton Sissons – Jonathan Marchessault
Michael Bunting – Fedor Svechkov – Jakob Vrana
Kieffer Bellows – Michael McCarron – Cole Smith
Brady Skjei – Nick Blankenburg
Marc del Gaizo – Spencer luckyy
Andreas Englund – Justin Barron
Justus Annunen (projected)
