Holland to get chance on Ducks' fourth line

Friday, 01.25.2013 / 3:19 PM

By Curtis Zupke - NHL.com Correspondent / 2012-2013 At the Rink blog

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ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Peter Holland will get his second turn in the NHL when the Anaheim Ducks host the Vancouver Canucks on Friday.

After a year of hard work in the American Hockey League and an abbreviated training camp with the Ducks, 22-year-old Holland will center the fourth line in Anaheim's home opener.

Coach Bruce Boudreau had used 19-year-old Rickard Rakell in the first two games, but wants to give Holland a look, even if it's in a limited role.

"As a scorer he's not being put in a position to score being on the so-called fourth line, but we'd love to see where his compete level is," Boudreau said. "When they talk about him game in and game out, the consistency of the compete level isn't there, but I'd like to see a solid game from him. And if somebody in the top three centers go out, he's a guy that can easily replace them with offensive ability. We think it's a good fit right now."

Boudreau said Rakell, Anaheim's first round pick in 2011, "has been very good" the first two games. But Holland might be the right fit long term given he has more professional experience.

A center in the Ryan Getzlaf mold with a good shot, Holland scored a goal in a four-game stint with Anaheim last season under former coach Randy Carlyle. He is the leading scorer for Norfolk, the Ducks' American Hockey League team, and was named to the AHL All-Star team.

Holland naturally was eager to get in the lineup and knows this is a new opportunity under Boudreau.

"I definitely think there's a little bit of anxiety and a little bit of nervousness," Holland said. "Obviously the goal was to be in every game this year. To not play the first two makes you really want to come out and have a good showing here, and especially in the home opener."

Here is the lineup the Ducks likely will go with Friday:

Kyle Palmieri - Ryan Getzlaf - Corey Perry

Bobby Ryan - Nick Bonino - Teemu Selanne

Andrew Cogliano - Saku Koivu - Daniel Winnik

Matt Beleskey - Peter Holland - Devante Smith-Pelly

Toni Lydman - Francois Beauchemin

Luca Sbisa - Sheldon Souray

Bryan Allen - Cam Fowler

Jonas Hiller

Viktor Fasth

Scratched: Jordan Hendry, Brad Staubitz, Rickard Rakell