Game #77: Ducks vs. Kraken Gameday Preview

The Hockey News' Derek Lee previews the Ducks' matchup against the Seattle Kraken.

ANAHEIM, Calif. - In their final season matchup with the Seattle Kraken, the Ducks are looking to break a six-game losing streak against the Kraken that dates back to the 2022-23 Ducks home opener on Oct. 12, 2022. Anaheim faced the Kraken twice last week, losing both of those games by scores of 4-0 and 4-2.

"The second game, we played with a lot more effort," said head coach Greg Cronin. "The first game, I think we sleepwalked. They got up early on us (in) the first period. They were moving, I think they had lost like eight or nine in a row and they dictated the play and they kicked the crap out of us."

Anaheim is coming off a 5-3 win over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday in Calgary. Alex Killorn scored two of the goals while Mason McTavish, Troy Terry and Cam Fowler scored the three others. However, McTavish left the game with a lower-body injury and did not return. He will not play tonight against the Kraken. Max Jones (upper-body) and Pavel Mintyukov (lower-body) will also miss tonight's game.

Radko Gudas, who has missed the last 10 games with an upper-body injury, will return to the lineup tonight. Nikita Nesterenko was recalled from AHL San Diego and was on the ice for morning skate. He'll make his season debut after getting nine games with the big club last season, one in which he scored his first NHL goal in.

"Just trying to keep it loose for right now," said Nesterenko. "Bring some speed and energy, that's my game. So if I can bring some speed, get some pucks in, get in on the forecheck and get back on the backcheck, that's kind of what I'm simplifying my game down to."

Fast Facts:
-Alex Killorn is one point away from 500 career NHL points.
-Troy Terry has 11 points in nine games against the Kraken in his career. He scored the overtime winner in the Ducks' last win against the Kraken in 2022.
-A win over the Ducks tonight would make it a season series sweep for the Kraken. Eight wins against the Ducks would be the most wins the Kraken have recorded against a single opponent in franchise history.

Ducks Projected Lines

Alex Killorn - Leo Carlsson - Troy Terry
Frank Vatrano - Trevor Zegras - Ryan Strome
Nikita Nesterenko - Isac Lundeström - Jakob Silfverberg
Ross Johnston - Bo Groulx - Brett Leason

Cam Fowler - Olen Zellweger
Jackson LaCombe - Radko Gudas
William Lagesson - Gustav Lindström

Lukáš Dostál

Kraken Projected Lines

Eeli Tolvanen - Matty Beniers - Oliver Bjorkstrand
Jaden Schwartz - Shane Wright - Jordan Eberle
Pierre-Édouard Bellemare - Jared McCann - André Burakovsky
Brandon Tanev - Yanni Gourde - Tye Kartye

Vince Dunn - Justin Schultz
Jamie Oleksiak - Will Borgen
Brian Dumoulin - Ryker Evans

Joey Daccord (unconfirmed)