Ducks’ Getzlaf on a Roll
Third-year center Ryan Getzlaf continues to develop nicely for the Anaheim Ducks. His progress has certainly been evident in a couple of outstanding games against the Los Angeles Kings in November.
Getzlaf, boasting a seven-game points streak, leads the Ducks as they continue their season series with the Kings on Sunday night.
Oddsmakers from SBG Global have made Anaheim -207 money line favorites (NHL Odds) for today’s game, the over/under has been set at 5.5 goals (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 57% of bets for this game have been placed on Anaheim -207 (View NHL Bet Percentages).
Getzlaf, off to a career-best start, signed a five-year, $26.625 million contract extension with Anaheim (10-9-4) on Tuesday. He signed the deal during what has been his best stretch of the season, totaling four goals and 10 points in his last seven games.
The Ducks have been paced on offense by the center, who has a team-high 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists). Getzlaf’s two best games during his current points streak have been against the Kings (8-12-1), recording one goal and one assist in each game as Anaheim won both ends of a home-and-home series from Nov. 13-15.
Getzlaf extended his streak with a goal in Anaheim’s 4-3 shootout loss to Phoenix on Friday.
Chris Pronger scored twice for the Ducks. He has one goal and 14 points in his last 16 games against the Kings.
The Ducks are 0-1-1 since Todd Bertuzzi returned after missing 14 games with a concussion. The veteran winger got an assist on Pronger’s first goal, giving him one goal and three points in nine games.
Drew Miller, meanwhile, left Friday’s game with a strained right knee. His status is uncertain for Sunday’s game as Anaheim tries to avoid a third straight loss.
"We’ve got to play 60 minutes in this league to win a hockey game," Pronger said. "It’s more disappointing than anything. We’ve shown at times that we can play those 60-minute games and play to a high level."
Los Angeles was able to end its own skid Saturday night, beating San Jose 2-1 for its first win in five games. It was the Kings’ first road victory since beating the Sharks on Nov. 2.
"We can’t get too excited about one win," Kings goaltender Jason LaBarbera said. "It’s been frustrating the past few weeks losing the way we did, but it’s nice to beat a first-place club like this."
Los Angeles was finally able to get some production on offense after being held to a total of one goal in its previous three games. Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar each scored first-period goals against Evgeni Nabokov.
Kopitar added an assist for his team-leading seventh multi-point game. The second-year center has four goals and 13 points in 10 games against Anaheim, including a goal and an assist in a 6-3 loss on Nov. 15.
Brown, meanwhile, already has eight goals after setting a career high with 17 in 2006-07.
The Kings’ depth has gotten a boost with wingers Kyle Calder and Raitus Ivanans each returning to the lineup Saturday after missing eight and seven games, respectively. Calder was on injured reserve with a broken thumb, while Ivanans was nursing a broken cheekbone.
The Ducks have won three of the first four meetings with the Kings this season.
by: Staff Writers – Email Us
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