Mea Culpa
Suspended Ducks forward Shawn Horcoff was back at practice with the team yesterday. Afterwards he spoke to the media, accepting full responsibility for his P.E.D. suspension. Horcoff explained he sought outside treatment for a hand injury. That treatment included a substance banned by the NHL. He blamed no one else, admitting he should have “done his homework… and checked with the league. The suspension ends in time for the March 11 game in St. Louis. Anaheim has done well without him, it will be interesting to see where (or even if) he fits back into the lineup.
World Cup
Rosters for the Word Cup of Hockey in September come out today. The Ducks have a few participants in the tournament. So far they include:
Sami Vatanen – Finland Frederik Andersen – Europe John Gibson – North America U23 Ryan Getzlaf - Canada Ryan Kesler - USA
No Corey Perry is a shock.
The Big Star
Center Ryan Getzlaf was named the NHL's First Star for February. The Ducks center scored six goal and added 14 assists. He ended the month on an 11 game point streak.
Montreal @ Ducks
Tonight's opponent at the Honda Center is the Montreal Canadiens. Les Bleu, Blanc et Rouge come into the game in full scramble mode. The original six squad is seven points out for the final Eastern Conference playoff slot. Coach Michel Therrien is under the gun as the team failed to capitalize on a hot start after all-star goalie Carey Price went down with a season ending injury.
One of the Ducks deadline additions will be in the lineup tonight. Jamie McGinn will make his debut on the second line with Rickard Rakell and Corey Perry. On Defense, Clayton Stoner finally gets back on the ice. He replaces Simon Despres, who is battling flu symptoms. John Gibson starts in goal. This season, he is 10-5-1 with a 1.91 GAA and .926 SV% at the Honda Center. Here is tonight's Ducks lineup:
Forwards Perron-Getzlaf-Santorelli McGinn-Rakell-Perry Cogliano-Kesler-Silfverberg Ritchie-Thompson-Garbutt
Defensemen Fowler-Bieksa Lindholm-Manson Stoner-Vatanen
Goalies Gibson Andersen