The Ducks (43-14-6) and Penguins (41-17-4) play tonight at the Honda Center in what could be a potential Stanley Cup preview.
The Penguins are coming off a 5-3 road loss in San Jose last night. With the five goals against, the Penguins have surrendered 16 goals in the four games (1-2-1) since the Olympic break.
This could bode well for a Ducks team that can score in bunches and is still smarting from a disappointing loss the other night. Anaheim is still one the leagues most potent offenses at home. Let's hope it stays that way.
Anaheim is looking to rebound from a 4-3 shootout loss the other night against the Montréal Canadiens. Despite the setback, Anaheim has points in its last four games at home and continues to lead the NHL with a 24-5-3 home record to go along with their 92 total points in just 63 games played.
The pens lead the East with 86 points in 62 games and are 18-13-2 on the road up to this point.
A win tonight can help avenge a 3-1 loss in Pittsburgh earlier in the year, while continuing to further bolster Anaheim's standing among the NHL's elite.
I still can't understand why it's hard for some to believe the Ducks are good enough to win a Cup this season. A win over the Blues and Pens in a span of three games could help to finally sway some opinions. (Judging from some of the reactions in the comment thread the Ducks are still losing an uphill battle.)
Cory Perry has been hot, while linemate and fellow gold medal Olympian Ryan Getzlaf has not. Perry has three goals and an assist in the previous four games and continues to lead the team in goal scoring with 32 goals.
Getzlaf has just one assist since returning from the break. He still leads the team in scoring with 68 points.
I'm concerned that we won't get the same production from Getzy that we saw pre-Olympics. If he starts to slow down more that I might be a bit more concerned and the Ducks inability to add another scoring threat at the deadline may prove to become a bigger issue come the playoffs.
I'm looking for the captain to have a breakout game tonight in one of the Ducks biggest games of the season.
***
I've seen many people questions the decision to trade Dustin Penner. To me it was an easy deal to make with the emergence of Nick Bonino.
Bones has 16 goals and 25 assists in 59 games this season, including six goals on the power play. Penner has similar numbers (13g 19a and 5ppg), but he's seven year older than Bonino and cost the Ducks more than double the salary and he's an UFA after this season.
So what about past playoff heroics? I think Bonino is more than ready to step in and fill that void.
Bye Dustin, enjoy the pancakes in D.C.
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