Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf could be an option tonight after missing the past four games with a lower-body injury. Getzlaf, who was a regular participant in practice yesterday centering a line with Rickard Rakell and Troy Terry, said he's pleased with the way his team has battled despite the rash of injuries the club has sustained.
"We're all building," he said. "Everyone is excited right now, which is great. We've gotten off to a really good start. That's what we need. Things are going to get harder along the way."
Carter Rowney and Jakob Silfverberg were the latest players to go down with injuries, both of the upper-body variety. Rowney was injured on his first shift in the game on Saturday in Dallas, and Silfverberg the following night against the Blues. Neither practiced with the team yesterday. Joining the Ducks for practice yesterday were centers Joseph Blandisi and Chase De Leo, recalled from AHL San Diego.
This opens a two-game season series between the Ducks and Islanders, which has seen Anaheim post a 14-12-8 mark all time, including a 7-5-6 record at Honda Center. The Ducks have won their last two games against the Islanders and are just one win shy of matching their franchise best win streak against New York (three games, Jan. 6, 2012-Dec. 21, 2013). Getzlaf leads active Ducks in career scoring against the Islanders with 17 points (5g/12a) in 16 career games.
The Islanders come in with a 2-2-0 mark, having lost their most recent game, 5-2, on Saturday in Nashville. This is the opener of a back-to-back that concludes tomorrow in LA. Casey Cizikas (lower body) skated with the team yesterday and is available to play tonight, according to the team's official website. The 27-year-old center has a goal and two points in three games this season. Mathew Barzal has points all four games this season and leads the club with five points (1g/4a). Barzal captured the Calder Trophy last season with 85 points (22g/63a) in 82 games.
