The last time the Anaheim Ducks began their season with three wins, they won the Stanley Cup. The Ducks will try to replicate that start on Friday when they host the Vancouver Canucks in their home opener. Anaheim’s third line provided most of the offense in the first two games, with Daniel Winnik (four goals), Andrew Cogliano (four assists) and Saku Koivu (four assists) combining for over 42 percent of the team’s points. The Ducks posted a 7-3 victory in Vancouver on Saturday to open the season, chasing Canucks netminder Cory Schneider from the crease with five goals on 14 shots.
Vancouver at Anaheim
When: 10:00 PM ET, Friday, January 25, 2013
Where: Honda Center, Anaheim, California
Prediction: Canucks 4, Ducks 1
Daniel Sedin leads all Vancouver players with four points (three on the power play). Henrik Sedin has two assists and is plus-2. Alexander Edler leads the team’s defensemen with two goals and three points, and leads the club with 12 shots. Roberto Luongo made 30 saves in Vancouver’s 3-2 shootout loss to Edmonton on Sunday after stopping 10 of 12 against Anaheim. Alex Burrows has 10 shots on goal but hasn’t recorded a point and is minus-1.
Goaltender Jonas Hiller has both wins this season despite allowing seven goals in his first two starts. Captain Ryan Getzlaf has four points and Corey Perry has three, but Bobby Ryan has yet to record a point and has one shot on goal. Kyle Palmieri, who has a goal and an assist, leads the Ducks with eight shots. Sheldon Souray leads Anaheim defensemen with three points and is plus-3. Penalty killing is the Ducks’ biggest weakness so far this season, with four goals allowed on seven opportunities.
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