DUCKS PERSPECTIVE:
Anaheim comes into this game with a record of 21-18-7. After a dismal first half of the season, the Ducks have improved of late. They are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games and have shown signs of their former dominating selves like last season. Having recently swapped LW Carl Hagelin in exchange for LW David Perron and D Adam Clendening from Pittsburgh, the Ducks have seen a small jolt in their offensive output, scoring 18 goals in the last 6 games.
Shea Theodore, the rookie defensive call-up from San Diego, has been outstanding in his first 12 NHL games, scoring 1 goal and 3 assists. His defensive presence and high level of poise in the offensive zone has been a stand-out feature for the 20 year-old. Theodore has been anchoring the bottom defensive pairing with a few different partners including Korbinian Holzer, Clayton Stoner, and Josh Manson. Theodore has not looked out of place in any way, shape or form. He has been playing like he already has a few years of NHL experience under his belt, not like he has played only 12 games. With Simon Despres possibly returning to the lineup tomorrow, Bob Murray will be forced to make a tough decision with which player to send back down to San Diego, and head coach Bruce Boudreau will be faced with some very tough lineup decisions. This is all because of the stellar play of the young defenseman from Langley, BC.
Ever the master tinkerer, Bruce Boudreau has found success in some forward unusual line combinations in the last few games. He has split up Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, putting Getzlaf with Perron and Chris Stewart. Perry has been finding time with Rickard Rakell and Patrick Maroon. It used to be seen as blasphemy to ever split up Getzlaf and Perry, but with the extremely underwhelming play of Getzlaf this season, a major lineup move was bound to happen. Hey, it's been working, so why fix it?
Anaheim comes into this game still sitting outside of a wild card spot behind Vancouver and Nashville. The West has been a bit of jumbled mess this season, and needless to say, Anaheim needs to continue to play as they have been if they want to be playing late into the spring. They still hold honor of the best Penalty Kill efficiency in the league, boasting an 89.4% PK efficiency. The power play has looked much better, and it could possibly be with the fresh look of the first unit. Shea Theodore has been thrown into the first power play unit and has flourished. Sitting at 13th overall in power play efficiency, Anaheim has slowly been emerging as a better power play team coming from its yet again dismal start at the beginning of this season.
The Ducks are 3-0-0 in their last 3 meetings with Boston, and against former Duck Matt Beleskey who left via free agency in the summer, it is safe to say that Anaheim will come out with a little fire under them.
Line-ups to expect (pending alterations):
Maroon - Rakell - Perry
Cogliano - Kesler - Silfverberg
Perron - Getzlaf - Stewart
Garbutt - Santorelli - Thompson
Lindholm - Manson
Bieksa - Despres
Theodore - Vatanen
Andersen
Backup: Gibson
Scratches: Horcoff, Stoner, Fowler, Clendening
RECENT DEVELOPMENT:
As of this morning, center Shawn Horcoff has been suspended 20 games without pay for violating the NHL/NHLPA performance enhancing substance program.
Statement from Horcoff on the situation:
"While recovering from an injury I suffered this past fall, I tried a treatment that I believed would help speed up the healing process," Horcoff stated, via NHLPA.
"Although I was unaware that this treatment was not permitted under NHL rules, that is no excuse whatsoever. I should have done my research and I should have checked with the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substance Program's doctors. I accept full responsibility for my actions, and I am sorry.
"Throughout my entire career, I have felt genuinely blessed and honored to play the great game of hockey, I regret the impact that this may have on my team and our fans.
"I look forward to the day I return to the ice for the playoff push."
Horcoff
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