The Ducks take on the Vancouver Canucks in their first home game since the 4 Nations Face-Off. The Ducks are coming off a 3-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday while the Canucks are coming off a 3-2 overtime win against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday.
The Ducks went 1-1-1 on their three-game road trip against the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings and the Sabres. Leo Carlsson, who represented Team Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-Off, had points in all three games of the road trip. He has points in the Ducks’ last four games dating back to their final game before the 4 Nations Face-Off on Feb. 8.
“I just played one game, but it was still a fast game,” Carlsson said. “The speed was just insane over there. It was good to get back (to Anaheim) and get some points (right away).”
Ducks head coach Greg Cronin said he has seen a noticeable difference from Carlsson coming out of the break.
“I talked to him after the tournament, and we talk to Leo quite a bit about what his goals are and what he needs to do,” Cronin said. “I think he’s a coachable kid, and he’s gotta take the message now and convert it into action on the ice, and I think he’s done that. His challenge is to get to the inside ice. He’s got to drive into the ice with the puck or he’s gotta get there without the puck. You notice Leo through the neutral zone. He’s got the puck, and his shirt is flapping behind him and looks like Mike Modano, for God’s sake. He’s racing up the ice, and then he gets into the zone and he makes flashy plays through sticks and bodies.
“The big thing for him that’s really going to be a core part of his growth is getting into those areas with or without the puck and staying firm in the middle of the ice. You need to get to those areas to score goals. It’s as simple as that. He gets the rebound goal in Boston, he’s in the third circle. He gets the goal on the power play (in Buffalo). It’s a shallow one-timer, but he’s in that area. He’s gotta put a small tent in that area and live there.”
With the Ducks eight points back of the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, every game is important. But Thursday’s game against the Canucks may carry even more importance with the Canucks being that second Wild Card team. The Ducks’ implosion on Tuesday against the Sabres saw them lose a 2-0 lead late in the third period and end up with not even a point after Henri Jokiharju’s late goal spurred the Sabres to a regulation win.
“We just got reaching and we had no legs,” Cronin said. “You step back and you don’t think about it because you’re in the battle. You’ve got three (games) in four (nights) right out of the gate. You fly across the country, you play three in four. We played at 7 (in Boston) and then at 6 (in Detroit). People forget that. Then, you get to Buffalo and… it’s weird. It’s hard to explain it, but you feel a little bit off. The timing feels off. But I really liked the way we came out in the second (against Buffalo). First period, they were friggin’ all over us. I watched them kill the Rangers 8-2 and they looked like they were on steroids. They were flying up and down the ice finishing checks and then they did that to us in the first. Dostál saved the game for us, it could have been 2-2 easy.
“Then, in the second, we got our game back and stabilized the game. Then, the third period, they came out like they did in the first and we couldn’t match that. They were sitting there waiting for us. It’s a good thing to talk about mental toughness and staying on the plan in terms of managing the puck when you don’t have the energy. We didn’t get out of our zone, so (Buffalo) got the two goals. That adds more speed and confidence to their game and they rode it. I liked the way we came back the last six minutes or so, but it was a little too late.”
Robby Fabbri played just 6:20 in the loss to Buffalo after suffering an upper-body injury. He was placed on injured reserve on Thursday, with Sam Colangelo being recalled from the San Diego Gulls in a corresponding move. Colangelo has 35 points in 38 AHL games and was named to the AHL All-Star Game. This is his third call-up of the season. He has one point in 12 games, mostly in a bottom-6 role. He skated in Fabbri’s place alongside Cutter Gauthier and Isac Lundeström at Thursday’s morning skate.
“The second time I got sent down, I was a little disappointed,” Colangelo said. “But when I got (back to San Diego), I saw there was a big change in the group. I was only gone for two weeks, but it seemed like we started to get more confidence. We had three or four lines providing offense and that helps generate a lot more wins. It’s been great, especially the last month or so. When you’re winning, no matter what age level you’re at, it makes coming to the rink a lot more fun. It’s been great down there and I’m looking forward to being back up here and hopefully, I’ll make the most of my opportunity.”
“(Colangelo’s) got to get up and down the ice quick,” Cronin said. “He’s a big body, he can score. In the American League, I think he’s first or second in goals-per-game. He’s been up here and down, so he’s kind of been the back and forth (guy). But that’s a pretty impressive accomplishment for a rookie. He’s still a 23-year-old kid. He can skate, and I think sometimes (players) come up and they don’t want to make mistakes. He’s gotta wash that narrative out of his head. He’s just gotta play on his toes.”
Ducks Projected Lines
Frank Vatrano – Ryan Strome – Troy Terry
Mason McTavish – Leo Carlsson – Alex Killorn
Cutter Gauthier – Isac Lundeström – Sam Colangelo
Ross Johnston – Jansen Harkins – Brett Leason
Jackson LaCombe – Radko Gudas
Pavel Mintyukov – Jacob Trouba
Brian Dumoulin – Drew Helleson
Lukáš Dostál (confirmed)
Canucks Projected Lines
Jake DeBrusk – Elias Pettersson – Nils Höglander
Dakota Joshua – Filip Chytil – Conor Garland
Drew O’Connor – Pius Suter – Brock Boeser
Teddy Blueger – Kiefer Sherwood
Quinn Hughes – Filip Hronek
Marcus Pettersson – Tyler Myers
Elias Pettersson – Derek Forbort
Carson Soucy
Artūrs Šilovs (confirmed)
