It is a brief two game slate in the NHL for Monday, but the nightcap will be a top notch affair as the Anaheim Ducks host the Detroit Red Wings. Both the Wings and Ducks are top contenders in their respective conferences and within striking distance for the top seeds and, if not that, home ice advantage for at least the first round of the playoffs. Let’s take a look at both matchups for Monday.
Arizona Coyotes at New Jersey Devils: Faceoff from the Prudential Center is set for 7 PM ET. Both teams are also-rans in the playoff race. Arizona is in 13th place in the Western Conference while New Jersey is in 12th place in the Eastern Conference. Arizona has lost seven out of their last eight. New Jersey has won three in a row after losing the four games before that. The Devils have allowed just four goals in their last three games.
What to watch: New Jersey ranks 28th in the NHL for goal scoring but a solid ninth for the power play. Arizona ranks 27th in the NHL for penalty killing, which is problematic for this matchup. Arizona ranks 27th for goal scoring compared to New Jersey’s ranking of 11th for goals against.
Who to Watch: Arizona defenseman Keith Yandle is a solid play maker with 36 assists. Another Arizona defenseman, Oliver Ekman Larsson is a world class level player that has 17 goals. Right wing Shane Doan has been with the team since its inception in 1996 and has 366 career goals. New Jersey left wing Mike Cammalleri has a team high 20 goals. Forty-three-year-old right wing Jaromir Jagr is a future Hall of Famer and the Devils second leading scorer with 11 goals and 18 assists. The fact that he ranks that high on the Devils for scoring is illustrative of what the problem is. General manager and current interim head coach Lou Lamoriello has not brought in or developed enough offense.
Why to Watch: This one can serve as a great history lesson on the type of paint dry eyesore bore hockey that did so much damage to the NHL in its Dead Puck Era. It’s also a surefire cure for insomnia.
Detroit Red Wings at Anaheim Ducks: Faceoff from the Honda Center is set for 10 PM ET with coverage on NHLNUS. Anaheim is slumping with five losses in their last eight games but remains in second place in the Western Conference playoff race, four points behind first place Nashville. Detroit is in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, five points behind first place Montreal. The Wings have won two in a row and five out of their last eight.
What to watch: Detroit has the top ranked power play in the NHL and ranks third for shots allowed. Anaheim’s lack of defense and a true number one goalie is catching up with them. The Ducks rank 19th in the NHL for goals against, which is reveals them as a Stanley Cup pretender.
Who to Watch: Detroit left wing and leading scorer Henrik Zetterberg is questionable with an upper body issue. Detroit center Pavel Datsyuk is among the top puck handers in the world. Left wing Tomas Tatar has a team high 24 goals while center Gustav Nyquist has lit the lamp 21 times. Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall maintains their tradition of excellence at that position. The Anaheim tandem of center/captain Ryan Getzlaf and right wing Corey Perry is among the best in the game. Getzlaf has 19 goals and 38 assists while Perry has 24 goals and 17 assist. Left wing Matt Belesky, who has 21 goals for the Ducks, is out until mid-March with an upper body issue.
Why to Watch: Skill. Lots and lots of skill and potential offense. Detroit head coach Mike Babcock is the best in the game and his Wings can be counted on for a complete 200 foot effort. Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau is known for his up-temp attack and offensive oriented teams. The Ducks are one of the most entertaining teams in the game to watch but their defense and goaltending issues must be addressed at the March 2 trade deadline of they haven’t a prayer for a long playoff run.
