Tonight, the Ducks wrap up their four-game journey through the Midwest with a St. Patrick’s Day clash against the St. Louis Blues at the Enterprise Center.
The game starts at 4 P.M. and you can catch it live on BALLY SPORTS SOCAL or stream it through the DUCKS STREAM and NHL GAMECENTER.
The Anaheim team heads to the Gateway to the West, aiming to secure two points in the standings after a series of setbacks. Their road trip has been challenging, with losses to Chicago, Minnesota, and Winnipeg. Their most recent game, a 6-0 defeat against the Jets in Manitoba, was particularly tough. Despite missing several key players, the Ducks struggled to penetrate one of the NHL’s top defensive teams.
Greg Cronin, the head coach, reflected on the game, noting, “For two periods, it was a close contest. The scoring chances were nearly even, and so were the shots. But in the third period, the Jets gained confidence. They played wisely, protecting their lead. Once they extended it to 3-0, our chances of a comeback, especially with our lineup, were slim.”
After two periods, the Ducks were down 2-0. They managed to outshoot the Jets 11-10 in the second period, but the Jets quickly widened the gap with two early goals in the third, making a comeback impossible.
Troy Terry, a forward for the Ducks, expressed his frustration, particularly with the team’s defense. “There’s no excuse for the high-quality chances we allowed in the third period. It’s not fair, especially to John Gibson. He’s been our rock for years, and the team relies on him. Leaving him vulnerable like that, not staying out of the penalty box, or not clearing the front of the net puts him in impossible situations.”
This loss marked Anaheim’s fourth consecutive defeat, bringing their season record to 23-41-3, including a 13-18-2 record on the road.
On the other side, the Blues are coming into tonight’s game on a high note after a thrilling shootout victory over the Wild last night. This win, their third in a row, has brought them within one point of the Wild in the tight race for the Western Conference Wild Card spot.
Brayden Schenn, the Blues captain, commented on the intensity of the game to NHL.com’s Lou Korac, “At this time of the year, the pressure and importance of each game increase. Mistakes are bound to happen. Even after the game was tied at 2-2, and they pressed hard, we managed to limit their chances. Ending up one point ahead tonight is a win for us.”
Earlier this season, St. Louis secured a narrow victory over Anaheim, winning 3-1 at the Honda Center in November. Mason McTavish scored for the Ducks, but the Blues’ early goals were too much to overcome.
Reflecting on that game, Cronin said, “We couldn’t find our rhythm. They played a smart road game, keeping it simple and avoiding mistakes.”
St. Louis currently stands sixth in the Central Division with 73 points, just four points shy of the second Wild Card spot.