Columbus Blue Jackets (16–8–1) vs. Anaheim Ducks (11–10-4)
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2017, 7 p.m. (NATIONWIDE ARENA)
It's only December, but hockey's hot stove is heating up, as yesterday saw a star player dealt to a team looking to turn around its fortune. But enough about Adam Cracknell.
The Ducks made a pretty big trade yesterday, sending Sami Vatanen and a conditional draft pick to New Jersey for Adam Henrique, Joseph Blandisi and a conditional third-rounder. It's a much-needed trade for the Ducks, who are in desperate need of help at the forward position, as they gave up a great puck-mover in Vatanen, whose stock has fallen a bit over the last year.
Much like an actual duck, this squad looks to be floating along just fine, but they're trying like hell under the surface. They're giving all they can to stay afloat in the Pacific Division, as they're facing injuries to five forwards – four of whom are key contributors.
Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler, Rickard Rakell, Patrick Eaves, Ondrej Kase and Jared Boll are all on the shelf. The first four on that list combined for 236(!) points last year – a level of production that is frankly impossible to replace – and Kase was off to a great start this year, with eight points in his first 12 games.
It's strange to see a team that's been a perennial Pacific powerhouse down in the cellar, but luckily for the Ducks, the West's wild card race is still wide open. Without Getzlaf and Kesler, they're missing some of the key elements that made them so hard to play against – but there are no easy wins in the NHL, even against banged-up teams.
You Oughta Know: Andrew Cogliano
This spot was going to be reserved for defenseman Brandon Montour, a 23-year-old offensive dynamo who scored this hilariously weird, incredible goal a few weeks back, but…
…since the Ducks somehow pissed off the hockey gods, he's missed the last two games with a hyperextended elbow. He may play tonight, but we're going with someone else just to be safe.
With that in mind, the player to watch is Andrew Cogliano. Why? He's really fast. He's not a particularly deft scorer – he's broken 40 points just twice in his 11-year career – but he's a good penalty killer and a threat to create shorthanded chances.
More importantly, though, he's the owner of the NHL's longest consecutive games played streak. No chance he'll miss this game, right? Given the Ducks' luck, though, he might get injured falling off the team bus tomorrow.
Fast Facts
- Andrew Cogliano's streak is up to an incomprehensible 811 games in a row – he has never missed a game.
- Only three other players have ever suited up for 800 games in a row in the history of the NHL.
- Just three players on this roster are even within 100 games of Cogliano – Nick Foligno (721), Brandon Dubinsky (725) and Jack Johnson (736) – but those numbers are cumulative, not consecutive.
- Four local connections here – former Jackets Antoine Vermette, Francois Beauchemin return to Columbus tonight, as would Jared Boll and former Ohio State Buckeye Ryan Kesler, if they weren't currently injured.
Previous Matchups
THIS YEAR: First meeting
ALL TIME SERIES: Blue Jackets lead 28-23-3 with one tie.
Keys to the Game
ONE: Take some risks! Anaheim has good players on the blueline (particularly Cam Fowler and Hampus Lindholm) and in net (John Gibson is a stud) but their forward group has been decimated by injuries. Tortorella's "Safe is Death" mantra should shine tonight – the Blue Jackets can take extra chances tonight.
TWO: Jump on the new guy. Adam Henrique will play his first game in a Ducks sweater tonight – presumably on the top line with Nick Ritchie and Corey Perry – but it takes time to develop chemistry. Matt Duchene's utter lack of production in Ottawa is a shining example of that. He's nowhere near the passer that Getzlaf is, either.
THREE: Own the puck. The Jackets have been one of the league's best possession teams, thanks in large part to a group of defensemen who can move the puck with the best of them. The Ducks group is pretty good, too, and could limit the Jackets' chances.
BONUS: Don't do the damn "Katy Perry" chant when Corey Perry touches the puck. It's dumb and bad. That is all.
Ducks Projected Lineup
| # | Player | Stats | # | Player | Stats | # | Player | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | Nick Ritchie | 22 GP, 3-5-8 | 14 | Adam Henrique | 24 GP, 4-10-14 | 10 | Corey Perry | 25 GP, 4-13-17 |
| 7 | Andrew Cogliano | 25 GP, 3-10-13 | 21 | Chris Wagner | 25 GP, 4-9-13 | 33 | Jakob Silfverberg | 25 GP, 6-6-12 |
| 38 | Derek Grant | 25 GP, 5-6-11 | 50 | Antoine Vermette | 25 GP, 5-4-9 | 63 | Kevin Roy | 10 GP, 2-1-3 |
| 48 | Logan Shaw | 24 GP, 1-3-4 | 83 | Kalle Kossila | 10 GP, 1-1-2 | 22 | Dennis Rasmussen | 20 GP, 1-2-3 |
| # | Player | Stats | # | Player | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | Hampus Lindholm | 17 GP, 3-4-7 | 42 | Josh Manson | 25 GP, 3-8-11 |
| 4 | Cam Fowler | 13 GP, 1-4-5 | 26 | Brandon Montour | 24 GP, 6-7-13 |
| 23 | Francois Beauchemin | 20 GP, 1-3-4 | 3 | Kevin Bieksa | 19 GP, 0-3-3 |
| # | Player | GS | W-L-OL | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | John Gibson | 20 | 8-9-1 | 2.97 | .921 | 0 |
| 30 | Ryan Miller | 4 | 2-0-3 | 2.06 | .935 | 0 |
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