The Ducks are in Toronto to face the “en fuego… Maple Leafs. It is the fist of a three games in four days stretch and the mid-point of their five game Canadian road trip. There are lots of news and notes to get to before previewing the lineup.
Both Dany Heatley and goalie Ilya Bryzgalov were recalled from their conditioning stints with the AHL Norfolk Admirals and have been activated to the main roster. In fact, Brzygalov will more than likely make a start for Anaheim by the end of the week.
These two players, both at the end of their respective careers, are recent reclamation projects. The Ilya Bryzgalov that played in last year's playoffs for Minnesota was awful. Granted, the Wild were a bit of a mess at the end of last season, but Bryz looked like he wilted against better competition in the post-season. Jason LaBarbera was waived (and unclaimed) to make room for the big Russian netminder; he is on his way to Norfolk. Additionally, there were rumors that Anaheim didn't trust LaBarbera to start games, which is why they needed Bryzgalov. If that is true, why even bother keeping LaBarbera in the organization?
Dany Heatley is a different story. He was signed by the Ducks this off-season to a $1M contract in the hopes he could provide some of the magic around the goal he had shown in previous years. He started the regular season on Injured Reserve after suffering an earlier groin injury. When activated he showed absolutely nothing in four games before returning to IR on November 15.
Last week came the revelation from coach Bruce Boudreau that the groin injury was so bad that Heatley needed a previously undisclosed surgery to repair it in late November. In a league where injury information is guarded like the plans to a nuclear submarine, it was an odd piece of information to disclose. Then came the realization it was better to give a full disclosure, not to the league, but to the fans and media rather then let them think Heatley was done. In effect Boudreau asked everyone to give the guy a “do over.… To make room on the roster, Chris Wagner was demoted.
Francois Beauchemin is very close to returning to the team after breaking a finger on November 28. He may be able to return as soon as Friday, but more likely next Tuesday at home. This would be slightly ahead of the original four-to-six week prognosis.
Goalie John Gibson is back with the team as well. His return should happen in about two weeks. The bad news for him is that unless Frederik Andersen or Bryzgalov gets injured, that return will be as a member of the Admirals.
As mentioned earlier tonight's game is in Toronto. The Leafs have several players with Duck connections, but none bigger than coach Randy Carlyle; the man behind the bench during the Duck's Stanley Cup run in 2007. Andersen makes his 19th consecutive start in the Anaheim net. Duck scratches for the game will be Heatley and defenseman Colby Robak. Here is tonight's likely lineup:
Forwards Bourque-Getzlaf-DSP Beleskey-Kesler-Palmieri Cogliano-Rakell-Silfverberg Maroon-Thompson-Jackman
Defensemen Fowler-Lovejoy Lindholm-Fistric Stoner-Vatanen
Goalies Andersen Bryzgalov
There are four games left before the Christmas Break. I'm working on some fun things to hold you over for the four day holiday period.
Ed