Postgame Notes and Quotes - Oct. 3 vs. Arizona

Postgame NotesAnaheim 2 vs. Arizona 1Oct. 3, 2019Honda Center1-0-0, 2 points
The Ducks began the 2019-20 regular season with a 2-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes at Honda Center. The result gave Anaheim its third consecutive season-opening win for the first time in franchise history.
Cam Fowler put the Ducks ahead 2-1 in the final minute of the second period, which proved to be the decisive marker. With his ninth career GWG, Fowler surpassed Scott Niedermayer (8) for the all-time franchise lead in GWG by defensemen. Fowler also moved within one goal from tying Niedermayer (60) for the all-time franchise lead in goals by defensemen.

Derek Grant opened the scoring for the Ducks at the 14:32 mark of the first period. Grant's goal was his 15th as a Duck in his 98th game in an Anaheim jersey.
Max Jones, Hampus Lindholm, Carter Rowney and Devin Shore each collected an assist, marking their first points of the season.
The Ducks improved to 7-1-3 in their last 11 home games against Arizona, earning points in 10 of those 11 contests (17 of a possible 22 points for a .773 points percentage).
Anaheim killed the lone Arizona power play. Dating back to the preseason, the Ducks have 18 consecutive penalty kills.
Anaheim will conclude its two-game home set with a 7 p.m. contest Saturday, Oct. 5 vs. the San Jose Sharks. The Ducks will then embark on a four-game road trip that makes stops in Detroit (Tuesday, Oct. 8, 4:30 p.m. PT), Pittsburgh (Thursday, Oct. 10, 4 p.m. PT), Columbus (Friday, Oct. 11, 4 p.m. PT) and Boston (Monday, Oct. 14, 10 a.m. PT).
Tonight's attendance was 17,174.
Postgame Quotes
Anaheim Ducks
Derek Grant
On tonight's game
It's always an eventful first game and tends to be a little sloppy, especially early. I thought as the game went on, we got better and settled into things a little bit and started to take over the game.
On the kids coming up and his role
I thought everyone played well today and we have good depth throughout our line-up. We need everyone chipping in, in different ways, every night. If I can chip in with a goal, that's great, but there's a lot of other things we are worried about out there.
John Gibson
On starting the season with a win
It's always nice to start the season off on a win. It's a big, special night for us and our fans. It's nice to give them a win.
On tonight's game
We just played our game. We came out a little bit slow, but I think as the game went on we got stronger.
Head coach Dallas Eakins
On starting off on the right foot and impressions from the first game
It's probably not the best game we have played in a little bit. I thought we were a little jittery early. The crowd was very much into the game and I thought that had an effect on us, but it was probably the way we settled down, took a breath and got our feet underneath us.
On Grant's game tonight
He was excellent. He has been a real go to guy for us face-off wise. We have been running his line along with [Carter] Rowney, sometimes Des [Nicolas Deslauriers], and tonight it was Shoresy [Devin Shore], against team's better lines. They have done a hell of a job for us so far.
On Fowler's goal
Well, it's huge. Anytime you can get one of those, late in a period like that. It's such a great feeling walking into the room. I thought we had played much better in the second period and to get rewarded like that is big. We have asked Cam to get up the ice and he was up, up, up the ice and he made a great, great play on that goal.
Arizona Coyotes
Phil Kessel
On the play of his line
I thought we played pretty well tonight. We were skating, just one of those nights where we couldn't get more than one.
On if the lack of scoring was due to Gibson or other factors
Obviously he's a great goalie, he made some good saves. We need to get a little crisper and a little better. If we can do that we'll be just fine.
Darcy Kuemper
On his team's play
I really liked our effort. I thought the guys were really amped up, ready to play. Overall I thought our structure was really good. It was just one of those games that was kinda tight both ways, and obviously the goal late in the period killed us.
On the second goal
I got low trying to find it, he (Fowler) made a move, they had two guys kind of falling, kind of a broken play, and he made a good shot, just kind of chipped it over me.
Head coach Rick Tocchet
On how the team played
I thought we were okay defensively, obviously you've gotta score goals. We had some chances, we had some good possession time, but it was sloppy, too many giveaways.
On the power play late in the game
On the power play, everybody wants to make a play but you've gotta come up with those loose puck retrievals. That's a huge part of the power play, we gotta get our nose dirty to get those pucks. Once you win those battles usually things open up.