Ducks at Panthers preview

DUCKS (4-3-1) at PANTHERS (3-5-0)
7:30 p.m. ET; FS-F, KCOP-13, NHL.TV

The Ducks defeated the Montreal Canadiens 6-2 on Friday, then started a four-game road trip with a 6-2 win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday.
The Panthers are playing the opener of a five-game homestand. They are 2-1-0 at home this season.

Players to watch

Ducks forward Ondrej Kase has three points (two goals, one assist) in his past two games, including his first two-goal NHL game against the Flyers.
Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau has eight points (three goals, five assists) in eight games this season, and at least one point in seven of those eight games.

They said it

"It's very exciting. It has been a long time coming. I've been looking forward to this for a while … getting the family support." -- Ducks defenseman Jaycob Megna, who was born in nearby Plantation, Florida
"They make you earn everything. I was saying that this morning how strong they are and their presence around the offensive net and blue paint. [We] have to be strong. We got to have heavy sticks tonight and be prepared to play that territorial game and a physical game." -- Panthers coach Bob Boughner on the Ducks

Ducks projected lineup

Rickard Rakell -- Ryan Getzlaf -- Corey Perry
Andrew Cogliano -- Antoine Vermette -- Jakob Silfverberg
Nick Ritchie -- Derek Grant -- Ondrej Kase
Chris Wagner -- Kalle Kossila -- Logan Shaw
Hampus Lindholm -- Josh Manson
Francois Beauchemin -- Brandon Montour
Jaycob Megna -- Korbinian Holzer
John Gibson
Reto Berra
Scratched: Dennis Rasmussen](https://www.nhl.com/player/dennis-rasmussen-8477929?season=20172018), Jared Boll
Injured:Kevin Bieksa (hand), Ryan Miller (wrist), Sami Vatanen (shoulder surgery), Ryan Kesler (hip surgery), Patrick Eaves (illness), Cam Fowler (knee)

Panthers projected lineup

Jonathan Huberdeau -- Aleksander Barkov -- Evgenii Dadonov
Jamie McGinn -- Vincent Trocheck --
Radim Vrbata
Connor Brickley --
Denis Malgin
-- Nick Bjugstad
Owen Tippett -- Derek MacKenzie --
Micheal Haley
Keith Yandle -- Aaron Ekblad
Mike Matheson -- Mark Pysyk
Ian McCoshen
--
Alexander Petrovic
James Reimer
Antti Niemi
Scratched:MacKenzie Weegar
Injured: Colton Sceviour](https://www.nhl.com/player/colton-sceviour-8474098?season=20172018) (upper body), Jared McCann (lower body), Roberto Luongo (hand)

Status report

Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said Bieksa will be out for an extended period. He said the injury did not occur during his fight with Flyers defenseman Radko Gudas on Tuesday. … Luongo practiced with goaltending coach Robb Tallas before the morning skate. He has been on injured reserve since injuring his right hand against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 20. Boughner said McCann could return for the morning skate Saturday prior to their game against the Detroit Red Wings, but Sceviour will be out until next week. Niemi practiced with the Panthers for the first time Thursday. He was claimed on waivers from the Penguins on Tuesday.

Stat pack

The Ducks have 12 goals in their past two games after scoring 12 in their first six games. … The Panthers have allowed four goals in the first period, tied with the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild for the fewest in the NHL. But they have allowed 16 goals in the second period, tied with the Penguins for second-most in the League.