It will be a blend of veterans and young players making up the Ducks roster that will fly to San Jose for the club's preseason opener later tonight. (7:30 p.m., TV: None, Radio: KSPN 710).

SAN JOSE -- Normally a day does not go by without a smile from Ducks defenseman Brandon Montour. The easy-going 24-year-old blueliner is one of the most outgoing members of the team, and his knack for keeping things loose is in his blood. Today, however, was different.

VANCOUVER -- A final stop on this four-game road trip brings the Ducks to Rogers Arena, where later tonight they will look to complete a four-game season sweep against the Canucks. But more importantly, a chance to bring home two crucial points in their quest for a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

After months of rehabilitation, countless hours of skating and pushing his body to the limit, Ryan Kesler is ready.

Anaheim's perennial shutdown center is expected to make his season debut tonight after undergoing hip surgery in June. This morning he skated alongside Andrew Cogliano and Chris Wagner at Honda Center as the Ducks prepare for the Vegas Golden Knights.

Two key pieces to the puzzle are expected to return to the Anaheim lineup tonight.

Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf and right wing Jakob Silfverberg took line rushes this morning as the team prepares for the Carolina Hurricanes at Honda Center. Getzlaf skated with Rickard Rakell and Corey Perry, while Silfverberg returned to his familiar spot on the second line alongside Andrew Cogliano and Adam Henrique. Getzlaf missed the last 19 games with a zygomatic (cheek) bone fracture, while Silfverberg missed the last five with an upper-body injury.

Ryan Miller will make his third start as a Duck, but his first against his former club. Tonight he will man the crease against the Vancouver Canucks, the team he played on from 2014-17 before testing the free agent market this past July. In three seasons with the Canucks, Miller posted a 64-68-16 record, 2.69 goals-against average, .914 save percentage and 10 shutouts, including a 29-15-1 mark with six shutouts in 2014-15.

As Executive Vice President/General Manager Bob Murray gave injury updates on Ryan Getzlaf (facial fracture surgery), Cam Fowler (knee) and Ryan Kesler (hip), the Ducks went through their usual morning skate inside Honda Center as they prepare to face the Pacific Division-leading LA Kings later tonight.

With every injury comes opportunity, and rookie Kalle Kossila will get his chance against the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight.

The 24-year-old center was recalled yesterday after it was announced Ryan Getzlaf would be out of the lineup due to a facial injury. (More on that here). Kossila took line rushes this morning alongside Rickard Rakell and Corey Perry. He earned his first career point (assist) on October 24 at Philadelphia and followed it up with his first career goal two nights later at Florida.

With the Ducks on the road facing the league's hottest team, it appears they will get a boost on the blueline with the return of defenseman Sami Vatanen.

The 26-year-old Finn, who underwent shoulder surgery in late May, took line rushes alongside Jaycob Megna this morning at Amalie Arena in the team's morning skate. It comes two games after Hampus Lindholm made his season debut in Philadelphia.

Line rushes this morning remained unchanged for the Ducks, which means two key players are expected to return to the lineup when they take on the Flyers tonight in Philadelphia.