Game #4: Ducks vs. Avalanche Gameday Preview

The Hockey News' Derek Lee reports from the Ducks' morning skate in Denver.

DENVER - The Ducks are on the road for a singular game, taking on the Colorado Avalanche before heading back home for a Sunday matchup against the Los Angeles Kings.

Anaheim comes into this game with a 2-1-0 record after a comeback win in overtime in their home opener on Wednesday against the Utah Hockey Club. The Avalanche are 0-4-0 after losing 5-3 at home to the Boston Bruins on Wednesday.

The Avalanche are without several key players tonight due to injuries, which Cronin said makes the game plan more difficult.

“There’s a lot of pride here and I know they’re fighting through injuries,” he said. “But you’ve got kind of like a wounded opponent and they’re going to be humming, I’m sure.”

Frank Vatrano will be out of the Ducks’ lineup tonight as he and his wife, Rebecca, await the arrival of their second child, another daughter. Isac Lundeström is also out of the lineup after suffering an upper-body injury in the home opener. He is currently day-to-day.

Jansen Harkins was recalled from AHL San Diego in a corresponding move and will make his official Ducks debut. Ross Johnston will also draw in and make his season debut. Brett Leason rounds out the new-look fourth line alongside Johnston and Harkins.

“(I’m looking to bring) speed and tenacity (tonight),” Harkins said. “Be on the puck, be on the forecheck. I think we’ve got good size, so we can use that to control the puck as much as we can and create some momentum.”

“Jansen was terrific in training camp,” head coach Greg Cronin said. “He’s got a ton of NHL games, I think he’s going to be a reliable fourth line centerman.”

Fast Facts:
-Leo Carlsson is one goal away from tying Stanislav Chistov (12 in 2002-03) and Cam Fowler (12 in 2010-11, 2011-12) for the most goals by a teenager in Ducks history.
-Robby Fabbri is one goal away from 100 NHL goals.
-Troy Terry is three goals away from 100 NHL goals.

Ducks Projected Lines

Cutter Gauthier - Leo Carlsson - Alex Killorn
Robby Fabbri - Mason McTavish - Trevor Zegras
Brock McGinn - Ryan Strome - Troy Terry
Ross Johnston - Jansen Harkins - Brett Leason

Cam Fowler - Tristan Luneau
Olen Zellweger - Radko Gudas
Pavel Mintyukov - Brian Dumoulin

Lukáš Dostál (confirmed)

Avalanche Projected Lines

Ross Colton - Nathan MacKinnon - Mikko Rantanen
Nikolai Kovalenko - Casey Mittelstadt - Logan O'Connor
Miles Wood - Parker Kelly - Calum Ritchie
Ivan Ivan - Matthew Stienburg - Joel Kiviranta

Oliver Kylington - Cale Makar
Sam Girard - Josh Manson
Calvin de Haan - Sam Malinski

Alexander Georgiev (confirmed)