Anaheim Ducks’ Playoff Push
As the Anaheim Ducks approach the conclusion of the regular season, they find themselves in a crucial position, needing to secure victories in their remaining games to secure a playoff berth for the first time since 2018. However, their recent performance has been concerning, as the team has slid into a five-game losing streak, during which they have been outscored 14-24 and managed to garner only a single point. Notable during this slump were two particularly troubling third-period failures against the Toronto Maple Leafs and the San Jose Sharks, evidenced by their close losses of 5-4 in overtime and 4-3, respectively.
Upcoming Matchup Against the Predators
The Ducks are set to face the Nashville Predators, who recently experienced a narrow 3-2 defeat in overtime to the Los Angeles Kings. The Predators have been on an upswing, winning seven of their last eleven games and positioning themselves just one point behind the coveted second Wild Card spot, recently reclaimed by the Kings following their latest victory.
Current Standings and Challenges
Due to their struggles on the ice, the Ducks have seen their standings drop to second in the Pacific Division, even though they are tied on points with the Edmonton Oilers, who lead the division based on tiebreaker criteria. Additionally, the Vegas Golden Knights are lurking just one point behind both teams and could potentially leapfrog them into first place with favorable outcomes in Tuesday’s games.
While the Ducks’ chances of dropping out of playoff contention remain slim, they are aware that triumphing in at least two of their final five matches is imperative. Currently, there exists a four-point buffer between them and the second Wild Card holder. Troy Terry succinctly stated,
“We’re treating these last five games like playoff rounds,”
emphasizing the critical nature of their upcoming matchups.
Coaching and Player Insights
Head coach Joel Quenneville echoed this sentiment by urging his players to approach each game with the playoff mentality:
“We need to play as if everything is on the line; that’s how we’ll discover what our team is capable of when stakes are high.”
Similarly, players like Jackson LaCombe and Mason McTavish stressed the importance of focusing on their performance rather than the standings, with McTavish highlighting a desire to simplify their game to limit errors.
Injury Updates and Lineup Changes
In terms of lineup changes, the Ducks will be without their leading goal-scorer Cutter Gauthier, who is sidelined due to an upper-body injury sustained during a matchup against the Maple Leafs. This marks his fourth consecutive absence. Additionally, captain Radko Gudas will also miss the game due to a lower-body injury, while defenseman Pavel Mintyukov, out for three games, is set to make his return, celebrating his 200th NHL game.
The Ducks have recalled defenseman Tyson Hinds from their AHL affiliate in San Diego, and he is expected to maintain his position on the third defensive pair along with Drew Helleson, while Olen Zellweger will be a healthy scratch for this game.
In injury updates, Gauthier is expected to resume skating soon and may return for the Ducks’ game against the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday, while Gudas is noted to be on track for an expedited return, pending practice involvement. Ross Johnston, meanwhile, continues his recovery from a lower-body injury and will begin skating soon as well.
Projected Lineups
Ducks:
Mikael Granlund – Leo Carlsson – Beckett Sennecke
Chris Kreider – Ryan Poehling – Troy Terry
Alex Killorn – Mason McTavish – Jeff Viel
Frank Vatrano – Tim Washe – Ian Moore
Jackson LaCombe – Jacob Trouba
Pavel Mintyukov – John Carlson
Tyson Hinds – Drew Helleson
Lukáš Dostál (confirmed)
Predators:
Steven Stamkos – Ryan O’Reilly – Zachary L’Heureux
Filip Forsberg – Matthew Wood – Jonathan Marchessault
Tyson Jost – Erik Haula – Luka Evangelista
Reid Schaefer – Fedor Svechkov – Joakim Kemell
Brady Skjei – Roman Josi
Adam Wilsby – Nick Perbix
Ryan Ufko – Justin Barron
Justus Annunen (projected)
With both teams aiming for playoff positioning, tonight’s matchup promises to be a thrilling contest.
