Struggling Ducks
Anaheim Ducks coach Randy Carlyle doesn’t want his team to get complacent after a much-needed overtime win, especially with so much work to be done at home.
Coming off their first victory in nearly a week, the Ducks look to end their struggles at Honda Center when they face the Colorado Avalanche on Monday night.
Oddsmakers from SBG Global have made Anaheim -175 money line favorites (NHL Odds) for today’s game, the over/under has been set at 5.5 goals (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 61% of bets for this game have been placed on Anaheim -175 (View NHL Bet Percentages).
Anaheim (11-8-3) had lost six of eight before winning 2-1 in a shootout at Dallas on Saturday night. Five of the Ducks’ previous six games were at home, and they went 1-3-1 in those contests.
Anaheim went 3-0-1 in the four games at Honda Center prior to that home stretch.
"We’re not going to get too high with a shootout win," Carlyle said. "You want to take that workmanlike attitude into the next game to try to establish our identity. We want to get back playing our grinding type of hockey."
Ryan Getzlaf continued his strong play, scoring the winner in the third round of the shootout. He also had an assist on Corey Perry’s first-period goal, giving him a five-game point streak (two goals, five assists).
The fourth-year center has been held without a point once in his last 15 games.
Center Brendan Morrison has not been nearly as effective for the Ducks, and was a healthy scratch Saturday. In 21 games, Morrison has two goals and two assists with a minus-5 rating.
Avalanche captain Joe Sakic (back) has missed five straight games due to a sore back. He’s feeling better, but his status for Monday’s game is uncertain.
Sakic has 10 goals and nine assists in his last 14 games at Anaheim.
Colorado (9-10-0) was struggling offensively before beating Los Angeles 4-3 in a shootout Saturday night. The Avalanche scored two goals or fewer in eight of their previous 10 games, going 3-7-0.
"We’re not winning as many games as we want to, but we’re playing good hockey," Colorado winger Ian Laperriere said.
Especially in shootouts, as the Avalanche won their eighth straight. The only teams that have won more consecutive times in the tiebreaker are Dallas (11) and Minnesota (nine).
Marek Svatos and Milan Hejduk scored in the first two rounds of the shootout, and Colorado finished 2-for-5 with the man advantage after going 2-for-34 in its previous eight contests.
The victory, however, was a costly one for the Avalanche, as they lost defenseman Adam Foote (back) and winger Wojtek Wolski (head). It’s uncertain if either player will be available for Monday’s game.
Winger Brian Willsie was recalled from Lake Erie of the AHL before Saturday’s game, and skated on a line with Darcy Tucker and Tyler Arnason. Willsie was leading Lake Erie with eight goals and 14 points in 12 games.
The Avalanche could use an offensive boost against the Ducks. Anaheim went 3-1-0 against Colorado last season, holding the Avs to two goals or fewer in each contest.
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