The Hockey News' Derek Lee previews the Ducks' matchup against the Utah Hockey Club.
In their 2024-25 home opener, the Ducks will take on the Utah Hockey Club for the first time in the regular season. These teams faced off during preseason at Honda Center, but tonight will be the first official matchup.
The Ducks are 1-1-0 after splitting their season-opening road back-to-back against the San Jose Sharks and the Vegas Golden Knights. Utah is 3-1-0 after being shut out by Jake Allen and the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 14.
“They play a style of hockey that if you're not on your toes (and) playing fast, they can win those track meets,” Ducks head coach Greg Cronin said. “We’ve got to respect that. We've got to kind of match that speed.”
“(They have) great speed,” Leo Carlsson echoed. “I think we felt that (playing against them) in preseason and in games against them (last season) in Arizona. (They’re) fast and skilled.”
Utah took seven minor penalties and allowed two power play goals against the Devils. The Ducks have yet to score on the man advantage this season and will be looking to break the dam tonight.
“We need to shoot the puck more (on the power play),” Carlsson said. “Get those opportunities to shoot, it’s going to be important for us. Get cleaner entries (into the zone) too.”
“I think we’ve got enough power play personnel to be a dangerous power play,” Cronin said. “Power plays always go in streaks, whether you start out 0-for-5 or 0-for-6 or the beginning of the year of the middle of the year. Those things happen. The big thing is you’ve got to learn.”
Jackson LaCombe, who has been dealing with an illness and did not practice yesterday, was on the ice for morning skate but will not play tonight. “I think he’s going to take another day off and then fully recover,” Cronin said.
Olen Zellweger will draw back into the lineup for Urho Vaakanainen after being a healthy scratch against the Golden Knights. He is expected to man the top power play unit as the sole defenseman.
Lukáš Dostál will start tonight for the Ducks after shutting out the Sharks in the first game of the season.
Fast Facts:
-Troy Terry is four goals away from 100 career NHL goals.
-Robby Fabbri, who played in his 400th NHL game on Oct. 13, is two goals away from 100 NHL goals.
-This is the only matchup out of three against Utah that will be at home for the Ducks, with the two others (Dec. 22 & Mar. 12) being in Salt Lake City.
Ducks Projected Lines
Cutter Gauthier - Leo Carlsson - Alex Killorn
Robby Fabbri - Mason McTavish - Trevor Zegras
Frank Vatrano - Ryan Strome - Troy Terry
Brock McGinn - Isac Lundeström - Brett Leason
Cam Fowler - Tristan Luneau
Olen Zellweger - Radko Gudas
Pavel Mintyukov - Brian Dumoulin
Lukáš Dostál (confirmed)
Utah Projected Lines
Clayton Keller - Barrett Hayton - Nick Schmaltz
Jack McBain - Logan Cooley - Dylan Guenther
Lawson Crouse - Alex Kerfoot - Josh Doan
Mattias Maccelli - Kevin Stenlund - Michael Carcone
Mikhail Sergachev - Michael Kesselring
Juuso Välimäki - Ian Cole
Vladislav Kolyachonok - Robert Bortuzzo
Connor Ingram (confirmed)