(SportsNetwork.com) – The red-hot Anaheim Ducks shoot for a fifth consecutive
victory when they welcome the St. Louis Blues for Sunday’s battle at Honda
Center.
Considering their recent success against the Blues, the Ducks have an
excellent shot at keeping the hot streak going on Sunday. Anaheim won all
three meetings last season to give the club victories in six of seven and
eight of the last 11 encounters versus the Blues. St. Louis also has lost
seven straight and 11 of its last 12 games in Anaheim.
The Ducks began 2014-15 with a loss in Pittsburgh but haven’t tasted defeat
since, winning the last three tilts of a four-game road trip before recording
a victory in Friday’s home opener against Minnesota.
Anaheim trailed the Wild 1-0 after 40 minutes on Friday, but Andrew Cogliano
scored a short-handed goal to even things early in the third period and Corey
Perry tallied the game-winner with 8:25 to play.
“I think the short-handed goal livened up the bench and the crowd,” Ducks head
coach Bruce Boudreau said. “I think that sort of propelled us for the rest of
the game.”
Frederik Andersen stopped 27-of-28 shots for Anaheim and he expects to start
again. Ducks goalie John Gibson hasn’t played since getting the call in the
season-opening loss at Pittsburgh.
The Ducks, who were 29-8-4 as the host last season, are playing the second
part of a five-game homestand on Sunday. Anaheim will continue the stay in
Orange County on Wednesday when the Buffalo Sabres come to town.
The Blues’ offense turned in a superb effort the last time out, helping St.
Louis record Saturday’s 6-1 road victory over the Arizona Coyotes.
Jaden Schwartz notched his first career hat trick to lead the way, while
Alexander Steen and David Backes each tallied a goal and an assist. Schwartz,
who also added an assist on Saturday, is leading the Blues with four goals and
seven points this season.
“The puck was just kind of finding me,” Schwartz said. “It was nice seeing
them go in.”
Jori Lehtera scored his first career goal, while Vladimir Tarasenko finished
with three assists. Jake Allen made 24 saves for the Blues, who were shut out
1-0 by the Los Angeles Kings in their previous game on Thursday.
It wasn’t all good news for the Blues, however, as centerman Paul Stastny
suffered an upper-body injury on his opening shift against the Coyotes and
will miss Sunday’s game. Stastny, who signed a four-year, $28 million deal to
join St. Louis in the offseason, is day-to-day, according to Blues head coach
Ken Hitchcock.
Brian Elliott expects to get the start in net for St. Louis. He is 1-4-2 with
a 3.11 goals against average in eight career games against the Ducks.
St. Louis is completing a three-game road trip Sunday and the Blues won’t play
again until they host Vancouver on Thursday.
