The Anaheim Ducks will return to Honda Center on April 3 for the start of a five-game homestand, facing the St. Louis Blues in the first contest of a back-to-back series.
The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. PT puck drop and will be broadcast on KCOP-13 and Victory+.
Anaheim enters the matchup after losing its third consecutive game, falling to the San Jose Sharks, 4-3, following two late goals by their opponent. Macklin Celebrini recorded four points for San Jose, including the goal that tied the game late in regulation. Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville addressed how challenging it was for his team to lose in such fashion: “First time all year in the third with a lead,” Quenneville said. “It hurt. I thought we were doing a lot of good things in that game. I thought we checked well. I thought we played with a lead, with a purpose, and then all of a sudden, you give up a late, late goal and then they do it again before the buzzer. That hurt leaving a point or two on the board. But we’ve been fortunate to be on the other side of that equation almost all year. It’s a good lesson.”
Despite their recent losses and Edmonton’s win on Thursday night, Anaheim remains tied with Edmonton atop the Pacific Division at 87 points but still holds first place due to tiebreakers.
Cutter Gauthier, Pavel Mintyukov and Radko Gudas are not expected to play tonight due to injuries or other reasons; Lukas Dostal will start as goaltender according to Quenneville’s announcement.
Quenneville also provided an update on Gauthier’s condition: he is “moving better today” but remains “questionable at best” for tomorrow’s matchup against Calgary after missing Wednesday’s game due to an upper-body injury sustained earlier this week.
Tonight marks Jacob Trouba’s 900th National Hockey League appearance—a milestone he reflected upon ahead of puck drop: “It’s kind of what you dream of as a kid, just to play a long time in this league,” Trouba said. “A lot’s changed since the first game to 900. I’ve got kids now, how much life changes is fun. The journey goes on, there’s no real scripting it. It’s been enjoyable.”
St Louis wraps up its California road trip tonight before heading next to Colorado; they are currently winless (0-1-1) during this stretch after an overtime defeat by Los Angeles Kings earlier this week.
Robert Thomas leads St Louis with 50 points so far this season—17 goals and 33 assists—and has collected four points over his last three games.
This evening represents both teams’ final regular-season meeting; each club has won once so far.
