Phoenix Coyotes (preseason!) at Anaheim Ducks (preseason!), 7 pm
Go visit Anaheim Calling and Five For Howling to see how ready they are.
I'm not really doing gameday posts for preseason games -- this is just some practice to get me back into season shape. But indeed -- preseason starts tonight, and the Ducks' site is slated to stream it (if history is any indication, audio only).
The Orange County Register put together these possible line combos for the Ducks:
Matt Beleskey - Bobby Ryan - Devante Smith-Pelly
Trevor Smith - Peter Holland - Dan Sexton
Brandon McMillan - Ryan Carter - Kyle Palmieri
Aaron Voros - MacGregor Sharp - Emerson Etem
Luca Sbisa - Mat Clark
Paul Mara - Cam Fowler
Scott Valentine - Lubomir Visnovsky
Goalies: Curtis McElhinney, J.P. Levasseur
Anaheim Calling has a great breakdown of what to look listen for from each line combo -- good stuff.
Last preseason, the Ducks were awful in first periods -- beyond awful, really. Over 8 preseason first periods, the Ducks were outshot 100 to 50 (no typos there), outscored 8 to 2, and didn't pot a first period goal until their 8th game of the preseason. Whatever "feeling out the opposition" process the Ducks employed, it yielded nothing but suck.
This is supposed to take place at a box office, by the way.
Instead it seems I've drawn a duck working out of a box. :)
I know preseason doesn't matter and that I shouldn't judge results of half-NHL rosters, but it would be pretty encouraging to see hear some improvement in how the Ducks start games -- c'mon first period competence!
Prediction: Ducks 4, Coyotes 2. Goals by Lubo, Smith, Pelly (I guess each surname scores), and (even though he's not playing) VAYOOOOOOOOOOOO. I'm telling you -- this guy could become my new Pahlsson.
Go Ducks.
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