The undefeated Ducks (2-0-0) look to make it three in a row tonight with their Round 1 rematch with the Oilers (2-0-1).
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. PT and will be broadcast on Prime Video and FOX Los Angeles + (Channel 13 KCOP).
Anaheim earned its 11th-consective home opening win on Sunday after beating the Panthers 3-2 in overtime. The streak ties Boston for the longest-active win streak in home openers in the NHL and got the Ducks another win, which leaves them as only one of two undefeated teams left in the league as of this morning.
Cutter Gauthier had two goals in the victory, good for the 12th multi-goal game of his career, and the game-winner came courtesy of team captain Mikael Granlund.
All three goals came on the power play, which tied a season-high from last year when the team did it twice.
“We played an easy, calm game to start, and then once we got a little bit of momentum, we were able to get a few goals off that,” Gauthier said. “They’re a really good team, hard to play against, but I was really happy with how we handled them.”
Additionally, the Ducks killed all four penalties they took in the game.
“[Florida is] hard to play against in the middle, so special teams are a huge part of these games for sure, and I’m happy we got the better of them today,” Leo Carlsson said.
Tonight’s game is a rematch of the first round of the Stanely Cup Playoffs from last season. The Ducks won the series against the Oilers, 4-2, and while Edmonton has some new additions to its team including former Ducks head coach Mike Babcock (2002-04 leading the squad, tonight is a rivalry renewed.
“With Babs [Babcock] going in there, I think they got a different look,” head coach Joel Quenneville said. “Certainly though, when you do play a team in the playoffs, it's the best way to create a rivalry. I thought that series was very competitive and I expect our games with Edmonton to be very, very important this year and be a good challenge for us as well.”
While Quenneville and Babcock have faced off many times throughout the years, the Ducks coach knows Babcock will have his team being meticulous in every matchup.
“They play hard, they play simple,” he said. “They know how to check, they've got a lot of freedom offensively, as well as playing the right way. I think that there'll be a little more structure throughout all three zones with a purpose. And I think that attention to details in the little things matter.”
After dropping their season opener in an overtime loss, the Oilers are on a two-game win streak, most recently beating the Kraken 3-1 on Saturday.
This morning, it was announced that the team traded defenseman Spencer Stastney to the Penguins in exchange for forward Filip Hallander. Hallander has one goal and three games so far this season.
Per Quenneville, Dostal will get the start in the net for Anaheim.
