Ducks vs. Red Wings: Projected Lineups and Game Preview
Detroit, MI – The Anaheim Ducks are set to face off against the Detroit Red Wings tonight at Little Caesars Arena. Here's a look at the projected lineups and what to expect from this matchup.
Ducks' Outlook
The Anaheim Ducks enter the game with a record of 11-4-1 and are looking to bounce back after their seven-game winning streak was snapped by a 4-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. Anaheim's head coach, Joel Quenneville, is seeking a response from his team after the loss. Despite the recent defeat, the Ducks have been a strong offensive team this season, ranking high in goals scored per game.
Leo Carlsson has been a standout player for the Ducks, with 11 goals and 15 assists. His point streak reached 10 games before the loss to Colorado. Other key offensive contributors for Anaheim include Troy Terry and Cutter Gauthier, who both have 20 points. Gauthier has been particularly aggressive, consistently taking a high number of shots on goal. Beckett Sennecke, a productive rookie, is also expected to contribute to the Ducks' offense.
The projected lineup for the Ducks is as follows:
- Chris Kreider — Leo Carlsson — Troy Terry
- Cutter Gauthier — Mason McTavish — Beckett Sennecke
- Nikita Nesterenko — Ryan Poehling — Alex Killorn
- Ryan Strome — Mikael Granlund — Frank Vatrano
On defense, the Ducks are expected to field the following pairs:
- Jackson LaCombe — Drew Helleson
- Olen Zellweger — Jacob Trouba
- Pavel Mintyukov — Ian Moore
Lukas Dostal is likely to start in goal, with Petr Mrazek as the backup. Dostal has a record of 8-4-1 this season, with a 2.70 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage.
Ryan Strome is set to make his season debut after recovering from an upper-body injury, and Mikael Granlund will return after missing eight games due to a lower-body injury. Radko Gudas remains out with a lower-body injury.
Red Wings' Perspective
The Detroit Red Wings come into the game with a 9-7-0 record and are currently on a three-game losing streak. In their last game, they suffered a defeat against Chicago. Coach Todd McLellan has recently called out struggling players, emphasizing the need for improved offensive output. The Red Wings' power play has also been a point of concern, with the team struggling to convert opportunities.
Dylan Larkin leads the Red Wings with 19 points, while Alex DeBrincat has 15 points. Lucas Raymond has also been a significant contributor to Detroit's offense.
The projected lineup for the Red Wings is:
- Alex DeBrincat — Dylan Larkin — Lucas Raymond
- Patrick Kane — J.T. Compher — Emmitt Finnie
- Marco Kasper — Nate Danielson — Mason Appleton
- James van Riemsdyk — Andrew Copp — Elmer Soderblom
On defense, the Red Wings are expected to use these pairings:
- Simon Edvinsson — Moritz Seider
- Ben Chiarot — Axel Sandin-Pellikka
- Travis Hamonic — Albert Johansson
John Gibson is expected to start in goal against his former team, with Cam Talbot as the backup. Gibson has a .882 save percentage in his nine appearances this season.
Nate Danielson was recently recalled from the Grand Rapids Griffins and has made an impact with five points in four AHL games.
Puck drop
The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET.
