3 Things to Watch: Golden Knights at Ducks, Game 6 of Western 2nd Round
Here are three issues to watch in Game 6:
1. Absences
vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb will serve a one-game suspension for interference towards Anaheim middle Ryan Poehling in Game 5. Poehling is out with an undisclosed damage as a result of of the hit.
McNabb was averaging 22:24 of ice time — together with 3:29 on the penalty kill, most on the Golden Knights — coming into Game 5, when he left at the 9-minute mark of the primary interval after receiving a significant penalty for interference and sport misconduct.
His absence places strain on a Vegas protection already with out Jeremy Lauzonwho will miss his sixth straight sport with an upper-body damage. Shea Theodorewho often performs with McNabb on the precise aspect of the highest pair, will probably swap to the left to accomplice with Dylan Coghlan. Kaedan Korczak is predicted to play for the primary time in 4 video games.
(*3*) Quenneville mentioned.
Poehling has 5 factors (4 targets, one help) in 11 video games and is a key penalty killer for Anaheim. Quenneville mentioned (*6*) would possibly transfer from wing to middle, and Jansen Harkins might enter the lineup.
“I think everyone’s excited about getting the chance to play more,” Quenneville mentioned.
2. Special groups
The Ducks are 3-for-6 on the facility play over the past two video games after going 0-for-11 over the primary three, however they’re 2-for-4 on the penalty kill over the past two video games and 9-for-13 within the sequence.
“The special teams is huge in any playoff series, and this one’s been no different,” Anaheim defenseman John Carlson he mentioned. “I feel the facility play’s began to chip in somewhat bit. The PK’s obtained to slam the door somewhat bit extra.
“I think winning that battle in any game throughout the year is big, but certainly in playoff games, high stakes, there’s people diving everywhere. There’s probably less scoring than normal, and that amplifies those goals even more.”
3. Anaheim offense vs. vegas protection
The Ducks scored at least three targets in 5 of six video games towards the Oilers within the first spherical. As anticipated, they’ve confronted a stiffer problem towards the Golden Knights, restricted to two targets or fewer in 4 of 5 video games, not counting empty-net targets.
ahead Alex Killorn mentioned Anaheim would possibly look at defenseman Olen Zellweger‘s objective at 16:55 of the third interval of Game 5 for instance of what it wants to do, as a result of “we form of unfold them out.
“We’ll give them credit,” Killorn added. “They do a really good job. They have a lot of veteran guys that play hard and defend hard, and it’s tough to get out of those spots when you get pushed into the boards there.”
