If Getzlaf can't play tonight, Carlyle said Antoine Vermette is likely to slot as the top-line center with Nick Ritchie and Corey Perry, while Chris Wagner, who had been playing right wing with Vermette and Ryan Garbutt, would move back to center, giving the Ducks four options down the middle (including Ryan Kesler and Michael Sgarbossa).
Jonathan Bernier is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury that he sustained sometime during the first period of last night's game. As a result, the Ducks recalled goaltender Dustin Tokarski from the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League. The 27-year-old owns a 10-12-5 career NHL record with one shutout, a 2.85 goals-against average and .904 save percentage in 33 career NHL games with Montreal and Tampa Bay. This season with the Gulls, Tokarski has posted a 2-0-0 record with a 3.50 GAA and .885 SV% in two games.
"I got the call last night, drove up, and now I'm playing it by ear," said Tokarski. "You have to be ready to go. Whether it's practice or playing, I'll do whatever to help this team."
ON THE PREDS
Carlyle: "Their system is one where they have a specific way they like to play in the neutral ice. They do a lot of pushing of the walls with their defensemen. They're a pressure team. They come with two guys and they push the walls in the neutral ice. They're going to force you to work in those confined areas. With [P.K.] Subban, he's fit into the same role he had in Montreal. He's an offensively gifted player who joins the rush."
Clayton Stoner: "We're familiar with them, having played them in the playoffs last year. They have a lot of skill up front. We don't want to give them those scoring chances on the power play. We've been taking a few penalties every game. I know against Vancouver, we limited our penalties and had a lot more momentum throughout the game. If we can limit our penalties and help [John Gibson] in front of the net, we'll be fine. They've got a good defense that can skate and join the rush. They'll have their fourth guy on the rush."
BACK ON FAMILIAR ICE
The Ducks got a welcome addition this morning, as Rickard Rakell joined a handful of players for an optional skate at Honda Center. Rakell returned to Anaheim two days ago, and today marked the first time he skated with teammates.
"I'd say it's just conditioning now," said Rakell. "Today, I was pushing it pretty hard. As soon as I can practice with the team and do battle drills, that's when I'll get the real feel for how I'm feeling."
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