The Ducks begin a five-game homestand on Sunday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Ducks are coming off a 4-1 win against the Nashville Predators on March 20, while the Hurricanes are coming off a 7-2 shellacking from the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.
Anaheim recently returned from a three-game road trip, where they went 1-1-1. Their win against Nashville saw the return of John Gibson from a lower-body injury which held him out for five consecutive games. Gibson made 33 saves in his return.
"We didn't even skate (on Wednesday) and I asked him this morning, 'Are you gonna be okay?' He said, 'No problem,' Ducks head coach Greg Cronin said after the Nashville game. "He's been around a while. He's a unique goalie, a unique guy and we're really lucky to have him."
The last time that the Ducks and Hurricanes faced off was in Raleigh in mid-January. Cutter Gauthier had his first career multi-goal game, scoring the overtime winner. In the Ducks' last two games, Gauthier has been elevated to the top line alongside Leo Carlsson and Alex Killorn. Although the promotion hasn't resulted in any points yet, it's clear that Gauthier is adjusting to the NHL environment with every passing day.
Anaheim Ducks Prospect Spotlight: Pair of Defensemen Make AHL DebutsOn March 16, Farjestad BK of the SHL and the Anaheim Ducks announced that the Ducks recalled prospect defenseman Stian Solberg to their organization with the intention of assigning him to the AHL with the San Diego Gulls. Solberg was drafted in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft after the Ducks traded the 31st and 58th overall picks to the Toronto Maple Leafs for the rights to select him.
The Hurricanes may be without the services of Seth Jarvis on Sunday after he appeared to slam his head into the boards during Saturday's matchup against the Kings. He did not return to the game. Andrei Svechnikov, who has missed the last five games with an upper-body injury, could be in line to return to the lineup, Frederik Andersen is expected to start for the Hurricanes after Pyotr Kochetkov started on Saturday against the Kings.
Ducks Projected Lines
Cutter Gauthier - Leo Carlsson - Alex Killorn
Frank Vatrano - Ryan Strome - Troy Terry
Nikita Nesterenko - Mason McTavish - Trevor Zegras
Jansen Harkins - Isac Lundeström - Brett Leason
Jackson LaCombe - Radko Gudas
Olen Zellweger - Jacob Trouba
Pavel Mintyukov - Drew Helleson
Lukáš Dostál (projected)
Hurricanes Projected Lines
Andrei Svechnikov - Sebastian Aho - Jackson Blake
Taylor Hall - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Jack Roslovic
Eric Robinson - Mark Jankowski - Jordan Martinook
Juha Jääskä - Tyson Jost - Logan Stankoven
Jaccob Slavin - Brent Burns
Sean Walker - Scott Morrow
Dmitry Orlov - Jalen Chatfield
Frederik Andersen (confirmed)