Preview: Preseason Rolls Along as Ducks Face Coyotes at Gila River Arena
by Kyle Shohara @kyleshohara / AnaheimDucks.com
The Ducks continue their 2019 preseason schedule tonight as they travel to the desert to take on the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena. (6 p.m. PT, TV: None, Radio: 1110 KRDC). They'll look to improve their exhibition mark to 2-0 after opening the preseason with a 4-3 victory on Tuesday night in San Jose. Tonight's contest opens a stretch that sees them play four games in five nights, including three straight beginning Monday in LA. Then, they'll play their first home games of the preseason Tuesday and Wednesday against the Sharks and Kings, respectively, before their finale next Saturday against the Coyotes at Honda Center.
In their preseason opener, the Ducks had nine different players get on the scoresheet, including goals from Max Jones, Devin Shore, Nicolas Deslauriers and Adam Henrique. Jones led the team with two points, while Max Comtois, Benoit-Olivier Groulx, Kiefer Sherwood, Troy Terry and Chris Wideman tallied assists. Ryan Miller (nine saves on 11 shots) and Anthony Stolarz (14 saves on 15 shots) split duties in net, with Stolarz earning the win.
Tonight marks the second and final home preseason game for the Coyotes, who enter the matchup with a 1-2-0 mark thus far. They opened their seven-game exhibition schedule with a 6-2 loss in Las Vegas on Sept. 15, and then had split-squad games against the Kings on Sept. 17. Arizona dropped its home game vs. LA, 4-1, but earned a 5-0 victory at Staples Center.
Christian Dvorak paces the club with four points (1g/3a) in two preseason appearances, including a three-point effort (1g/2a) in Arizona's 5-0 victory in LA. Conor Garland ranks second with three points (2g/1a) and paces the club with a +5 rating, all earned in their win over the Kings.
Following tonight's game, the Coyotes will finish off their schedule with three straight away from home - Tuesday in Edmonton, Thursday in Vancouver and Saturday in Anaheim.
Ducks Projected Lineup (based off the morning skate)
Ritchie-Getzlaf-Kase
Rakell-Steel-Silfverberg
Morand-Grant-Rowney
De Leo-Carrick-Martinsen
Guhle-Fowler
Sieloff-Del Zotto
Larsson-Holzer
Gibson/Boyle