Game #15: Ducks vs. Golden Knights Gameday Preview

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Through four games of a six-game homestand, the Ducks are 1-3-0. They snapped a four-game losing streak with a win on Sunday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Tonight, they will face the Vegas Golden Knights for the second time this season and the first time at home. Their first matchup in Vegas was a close affair, though mishaps in the defensive zone led directly to all three goals against. Troy Terry scored Anaheim’s lone goal in that game on a breakaway.

Related: Takeaways from the Ducks 3-1 Loss to the Golden Knights

“In the first period (of that game), we played well and then the second period, there was some turnovers,” Ducks head coach Greg Cronin said. “We got sloppy and then we had our chances. It’s an interesting dynamic. We seem to play okay against these guys. Their team driven by their defense. They’re older and they’ve got size and the length and they’re offensively gifted players.

“They run a system where they don't let you get the inside of the ice. I was looking at the interior shots in that game and I think they had five more than we did. We had a similar number of shots, but they had the better quality shots and I think that's a reflection of the way they play.”

That game was also James Reimer’s Ducks debut, but he is no longer with the team after being placed on waivers yesterday. With John Gibson fully recovered from his appendectomy, Reimer was no longer needed on the NHL roster. This morning, Reimer was re-claimed by the Buffalo Sabres—who originally placed him on waivers before the season.

Related: Ducks vs Golden Knights Pre-Game Stat Pack

Four other players who played in that game for the Ducks will not play tonight. Tristan Luneau was sent down to the AHL at the beginning of the month while Cam Fowler (upper-body) and Robby Fabbri (lower-body) were placed on injured reserve yesterday afternoon. Mason McTavish (upper-body) remains day-to-day after missing Sunday’s game against the Blue Jackets.

In corresponding moves, forward Jansen Harkins and defenseman Drew Helleson were recalled from AHL San Diego. Harkins will be in the lineup but it’s unclear where he’ll slot in with the Ducks conducting an optional morning skate. Whether Helleson will be in the lineup or not is more uncertain.

“Whoever I'm with, just bring what I can,” Harkins said. “That speed and little physicality and some tenacity on the puck. Just go out there and give it hell.”

Cronin did not divulge whether John Gibson or Lukáš Dostál will get the start tonight. Gibson made 38 saves in his season debut on Sunday after missing the first 13 games due to an emergency appendectomy. Dostál has been a big storyline this season thanks to his stellar play during Gibson’s absence.

The Golden Knights will be without captain Mark Stone, who is currently day-to-day with a lower-body injury, and defenseman Nic Hague, who is on IR with a lower-body injury.

Ducks Projected Lines

Frank Vatrano - Trevor Zegras - Troy Terry
Isac Lundeström - Leo Carlsson - Ryan Strome
Brock McGinn - Jansen Harkins - Alex Killorn
Ross Johnston - Brett Leason - Cutter Gauthier

Jackson LaCombe - Radko Gudas
Pavel Mintyukov - Brian Dumoulin
Olen Zellweger - Urho Vaakanainen

Lukáš Dostál (projected)

Golden Knights Projected Lines

Brett Howden - Tomáš Hertl - Pavel Dorofeyev
Ivan Barbashev - Jack Eichel - Nicolas Roy
Tanner Pearson - William Karlsson - Alexander Holtz
Jonas Røndbjerg - Cole Schwindt - Keegan Kolesar

Noah Hanifin - Alex Pietrangelo
Brayden McNabb - Shea Theodore
Ben Hutton - Kaedan Korczak

Adin Hill (projected)