Game #3: Ducks vs. Utah game day preview

In their 2024-25 home opener, the Ducks will face the Utah Hockey Club for the first time in the regular season. These teams competed during preseason at the Honda Center, but tonight is the first official clash.

The Ducks are 1-1-0 after splitting two games in the season opener against the San Jose Sharks and Vegas Golden Knights. Utah is 3-1-0 after being shut out by Jake Allen and the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 14.

“They play a style of hockey where if you're not on your toes (and play fast), they can win track and field meets,” Ducks head coach Greg Cronin said. “We have to respect that. We need to achieve that speed to some extent.”

“(They have) great speed,” repeated Leo Carlsson. “I think we felt that (against them) in preseason and in the games against them (last season) in Arizona. (They are) quick and skilled.”

Utah incurred seven minor penalties and allowed two power play goals against the Devils. The Ducks have yet to achieve a man advantage this season and will look to break the dam tonight.

“We have to shoot the puck more (on the power play),” Carlsson said. “Take those opportunities to shoot, that will be important for us. Also get cleaner entries (into the zone).”

“I think we have enough power play personnel to be a dangerous power play,” Cronin said. “Power games always happen in series, regardless of whether you start with 0:5 or 0:6 or at the beginning or in the middle of the year. These things happen. The most important thing is that you have to learn.”

Jackson LaCombe, who is battling an illness and did not practice yesterday, was on the ice for the morning skate but will not play tonight. “I think he'll take another day off and then make a full recovery,” Cronin said.

Olen Zellweger will return to the lineup in place of Urho Vaakanainen after suffering a healthy loss against the Golden Knights. He is expected to be the lone defenseman manning the top power play unit.

Lukáš Dostál will start for the Ducks tonight after shutting out the Sharks in the first game of the season.

Fast facts:
-Troy Terry is four goals away from 100 career NHL goals.
-Robby Fabbri, who played his 400th NHL game on October 13, is just two goals away from 100 NHL goals.
-This is the only one of three games against Utah that will be played at home for the Ducks, the other two (December 22 and March 12) being in Salt Lake City.

Ducks projected lines

Editor Gauthier – Leo Carlsson – Alex Killorn
Robby Fabbri – Mason McTavish – Trevor Zegras
Frank Vatrano – Ryan Strome – Troy Terry
Brock McGinn – Isac Lundestrom – Brett Leason

Cam Fowler – Tristan Luneau
Olen Zellweger – Radko Gudas
Pavel Mintyukov – Brian Dumoulin

Lukáš Dostál (confirmed)

Projected Lines of Utah

Clayton Keller – Barrett Hayton – Nick Schmaltz
Jack McBain – Logan Cooley – Dylan Guenther
Lawson Crouse – Alex Kerfoot – Josh Doan
Mattias Maccelli – Kevin Stenlund – Michael Carcone

Mikhail Sergachev – Michael Kesselring
Juuso Valimäki – Ian Cole
Vladislav Kolyachonok – Robert Bortuzzo

Connor Ingram (confirmed)