The Vancouver Canucks will square off with the hosts, Anaheim Mighty Ducks, in the National Hockey League tonight. The Canucks are favorites to win after a decent start to the NHL season. The Mighty Ducks are struggling and could turn things around with a win.
The Canucks currently sit at the 6th spot in the Western Conference. Vancouver has won four games in regulation and lost two. The Canucks have won one game in overtime and lost three, accumulating 13 points. The Anaheim Mighty Ducks, meanwhile, are in 13th, with three wins in regulation and five losses. In overtime, the Ducks have won one and lost two games, adding up to 10 points so far this season.
Both teams belong to the Pacific Division, with the Vancouver Canucks in third and the Mighty Ducks in seventh. This is their first matchup of the new NHL season. Looking at their last six games, the Mighty Ducks have two wins and four losses, a 33% win rate. Vancouver, on the other hand, has won four of its last six games, with a 67% win rate.
Kevin Lankanen has been strong between the posts for the Canucks, allowing only 2.25 goals per game, with five wins. The Canucks boast a solid offense with centers like JT Miller and Emil Pettersson. Miller has tallied nine points in ten games (4 goals, 5 assists), while Connor Garland has contributed three goals and six assists. Brock Boeser leads as Vancouver’s top goalscorer with five, while Quinn Hughes has excelled defensively with seven assists and two goals from the blue line. Head coach Rick Tocchet is pleased with the season's start.
Lukas Dostal has been solid in goal for Anaheim, allowing an average of 2.22 goals per game with four wins. Right winger Troy Terry is a key player for the Ducks, scoring four goals and adding three assists. However, Anaheim’s penalty-killing and power-play performance trails behind Vancouver's. The Canucks are winning over 51% of their faceoffs, while the Mighty Ducks stand at 42.5%. Head coach Greg Cronin acknowledges the need for improvement.
