Preview: Ducks Resume Action Tonight Against Coyotes

Three days after opening their 25th Anniversary Season with a 5-2 victory in San Jose, the Ducks resume action tonight as they take on the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena. (6 p.m. PT, TV: Prime Ticket, Radio: AM 830). Tonight's game finishes off a brief two-game trip for the Ducks, who will return home to host the Detroit Red Wings 25 years to the day of their inaugural game on Monday.

The Ducks are coming off a season-opening win that featured three players making their NHL debuts - Max Comtois, Kiefer Sherwood and Sam Steel - and another player, Troy Terry, playing in his third NHL game. Comtois' goal just 49 seconds into the game (and four seconds into his first shift) was incredible. It marked the fastest to start an NHL career since 1989 when Buffalo's Alexander Mogilny scored 20 second into the first on Oct. 5, 1989 vs. Quebec. Additionally, Comtois' goal was the sixth-fastest goal to open an NHL career in NHL modern-era history (1943-44).
In the eyes of the vets, the kids are alright. "I thought they did well," said 11-year NHL veteran Andrew Cogliano. "For the most part, all of them played good minutes for their first game. Steeler was out there near the end of the game, which is a good confidence booster for him."
It's a youth movement the Ducks haven't seen in quite some time, at least in terms of experience (or lack thereof). Only twice before in franchise history have the Ducks seen three of their own make NHL debuts in a season opener, the most recent occurring 16 years ago when Stanislav Chistov, Kurt Sauer and Alexei Smirnov suited up on Oct. 10, 2002 in St. Louis. (Chistov and Smirnov scored in that game). On Wednesday night, Comtois and Sherwood (assist) picked up their first career NHL points, while Steel recorded one takeaway, one blocked shot and took 17 faceoffs. All three played over 11 minutes in the game.
"They're going to play, so they really need to push themselves to be ready," said Cogliano. "I think they've done a good job so far. They've handled themselves professionally. It's good to see young guys do that. It seems like they're going to be good players for a long time."
Tonight they face a team heavy on youth, and one that came on strong at the tail end of last season. High-flying forward Clayton Keller became the first rookie in Coyotes history to lead the team in scoring when he posted 65 points (23g/42a) in 82 games last season. The 20-year-old Chesterfield, Missouri native set Coyotes single-season rookie records for goals, assists, points, games played, multi-point games (14), longest point streak (10 games) and most points in a month (19, March).
Though the Coyotes were shutout in their season opener, 3-0, in Dallas on Thursday, the Ducks know they're in for a tough challenge tonight. "They skate really well," said the speedy Cogliano. "They're much improved. They're a very tenacious team. Defensively, they're better than people think. They're very tough to play against because they defend hard in their end, they're good on the cycle and they stretch the play out. As the year went on last year, I thought they were one of the better teams we played. We expect a tough game. They're usually really tough in their building."
Gibbons Ready for Ducks Debut
Brian Gibbons was on the ice in the third period of Anaheim's second-to-last preseason game when he squared up to block a point shot from LA Kings defenseman Dion Phaneuf. The only problem was he wasn't expecting it to be a one-timer. Because he didn't turn his hand over so that the top side/protected side would absorb the blow, the underside of his hand took the brunt of the shot. Gibbons immediately dropped his glove and headed to the locker room. Fortunately, nothing was broken. [He was diagnosed with a bone bruise]. Gibbons has since worked his way back up to speed, and says he's ready for action.
"I feel ready to go whenever the coach makes that decision," said Gibbons, who skated with Carter Rowney and Ben Street yesterday. "It's never enjoyable to get hurt at any point in the season. It wasn't bad. Quick recovery. Just ready to go now. Definitely excited."
Ducks Potential Line Combinations
Rakell-Getzlaf-Terry
Comtois-Henrique-Silfverberg
Cogliano-Steel-Sherwood
Street-Rowney-Gibbons
Fowler-Manson
Lindholm-Montour
Pettersson-Schenn/Sustr
Gibson
Miller