The Anaheim Ducks are looking to rebound from a recent loss to the New York Rangers as their road trip continues on Tuesday night against the New York Islanders. The team seeks to improve its standing after falling to 3-5-0 and having lost three consecutive games.
Lukas Dostal has been confirmed as the Ducks' starting goaltender for the Tuesday night matchup, a decision reported by Daily Faceoff via Stephen Whyno. This follows the team's use of Ville Husso in Monday night’s game. Dostal will be looking to improve on his previous outing last Friday, where he allowed four goals on 22 shots against the Boston Bruins. However, he also put forth a strong effort last Tuesday when the Ducks played the Calgary Flames, making 32 saves for a .914 save percentage. Overall, Dostal’s season record stands at 3-3-0, with an .882 save percentage, a 3.17 goals-against average (GAA), and a .667 quality starts percentage.
The Islanders present a notable challenge, particularly with their confirmed starter, Ilya Sorokin. Per Daily Faceoff via Stefen Rosner, Sorokin is set to start, and he continues to be regarded as one of the NHL’s most dominant netminders. His statistics include a 1.68 GAA, a .940 save percentage, one shutout, and an .833 quality starts percentage. The Ducks will face an Islanders team that ranks 20th in the NHL for goals scored, with 24 goals, averaging 3.00 goals per game.
Anaheim’s offensive lines and defensive pairings will need to find a way to penetrate both Sorokin and a strong Islanders defense. The projected lines for Tuesday are anticipated to be similar to those seen on Monday night, according to Daily Faceoff. NHL.com noted that "The Ducks did not hold a morning skate following a 5-2 loss at the New York Rangers on Monday."
In the hours leading up to the game, the projected first line includes Alex Killorn, Leo Carlsson, and Nikita Klepov. The second line is projected to feature Frank Vatrano, Mikael Granlund, and Beckett Sennecke. Killorn and Vatrano both contributed to the Ducks avoiding a shutout on Monday by assisting on Nick Jensen’s goal. A.J. Greer, Roger McQueen, and Cutter Gauthier are once again the projected third liners, with Greer scoring a last-minute goal on Monday. Tim Washe is expected to center Jeff Malott and Judd Caulfield on the fourth line.
The projected defensive pairings for the Ducks include Jackson LaCombe and Noah Warren on the first pairing, Tyson Hynes and Tristan Luneau on the second, and Pavel Mintyukov and Nick Jensen on the third. Jensen made his season debut on Monday and played a key role in spoiling an opposing shutout bid.
Should these projections hold, Drew Helleson, Sam Colangelo, and Nikita Nesterenko are expected to be scratches for the game. Troy Terry, Ian Moore, and Ryan Poehling are listed among the injured players. Up-to-date lines are available through Daily Faceoff.
After losing three consecutive games, the Anaheim Ducks face a crucial test to avoid falling to 3-6-0 in a competitive Pacific Division, even in this early part of the season. The Ducks' success in their first five games was marked by scoring three-plus goals in four of those contests, winning every time they reached that goal total. This suggests the team must prioritize finding offensive opportunities and scoring frequently against Sorokin and the Islanders. The game is set to begin at 7:00 p.m. EDT.
