ANAHEIM DUCKS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Anaheim Ducks conclude a four-game road trip tonight and the second half of a back-to-back against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesar’s Arena (4 p.m. PT, TV: Bally Sports West, AUDIO: Ducks Stream). The Ducks have won five of seven games in the Eastern Time Zone this season, including Oct. 24 @ CBJ (3-2, OT), Oct. 26 @ BOS (4-3, OT), Oct. 28 @ PHI (7-4), Oct. 30 @ PIT (4-3) and Dec. 17 @ NJD (5-1), in addition to wins in seven of the last nine contests in the Eastern Time Zone dating to last season (also Feb. 25, 2023 @ CAR and Feb. 23, 2023 @ WSH). Tonight closes Anaheim’s fourth set of back-to-back matches, posting a 3-4-0 record overall and 1-2-0 mark in the second contest. The Ducks continue their 13-game December schedule (2-5-0), which includes seven home and six road contests. Following tonight’s game, the Ducks return home to open a season-long eight-game homestand beginning Thursday, Dec. 21 vs. Calgary (7 p.m. PT). The homestand spans 18 days from Dec. 21 through Jan. 7, where the team welcomes four Pacific Division rivals (Calgary, Seattle, Vegas, Edmonton), two Central clubs (Arizona and Winnipeg) and two Eastern Conference foes (Toronto and Detroit).
HATS OFF: Anaheim leads the NHL with five hat tricks this season in addition to the most individual players to record a hat trick in 2023- 24. The Ducks’ five hat tricks in 2023-24 are the most by a team through 30 games in a season since the Penguins in 2018-19 (also 5), with Philadelphia (6) the last club to record more through 30 games in 1994-95. Anaheim’s hat tricks include Adam Henrique (3-0=3 Dec. 17 @ NJD), Leo Carlsson (3-0=3 Nov. 10 vs. PHI), Troy Terry (3-1=4 Nov. 1 @ ARI) and Frank Vatrano (two, 3-0=3 Oct. 26 @ PHI and 3-0=3 Oct. 15 vs. CAR). The five hat tricks trails only the single-season club record of seven in 2010-11. The Ducks’ three hat tricks the first 10 games this season were tied for the second-most the last 40 years (NYI recorded four in 1983-84). Only Anaheim and Edmonton (2022-23) scored three hat tricks the first 10 games of a season since 1988-99 (PIT).
DUCKS-RED WINGS: Anaheim and the Detroit Red Wings open a two-game season series tonight at Little Caesars Arena. The Ducks have points in seven of their last 10 matchups vs. the Red Wings (5- 3- 2) and six of their last 10 road contests (5-4-1). The Ducks own a 31-48-14 all-time record vs. the Red Wings, including a 8-29-9 mark in Detroit. During the 2022-23 season series, Anaheim earned a 3-2 OT win Nov. 15, 2022 at Honda Center and fell 5-1 Oct. 23, 2022 in the Motor City. John Gibson (7-5-1) has recorded the most wins by a Ducks goalie vs. the Red Wings all-time, recording a 2.32 GAA and .917 SV% against Detroit. Alex Killorn (12-11=23 in 43 GP) leads active Ducks skaters in career scoring and goals vs. the Red Wings, while both Killorn and Frank Vatrano (6-11=17 in 28 GP) colead in assists. The two teams next meet in 20 days, Jan. 7 at Honda Center, to close out the season series (5 p.m. PT).
DETROIT RED WINGS NOTES:
MAN GAMES LOST (games missed / out since)
Dylan Larkin – upper body (6 / Dec. 9)
David Perron – suspension (4 / Dec. 9)
Total Man Games Lost: 45
Individual Man Games Lost: Robby Fabbri (12), Klim Kostin (7), J.T. Compher (5), Austin Czarnik (3), Jeff Petry (3), Ville Husso (2), Jake Walman (2), Christian Fischer (1)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
12/16 – Activated forwards J.T. Compher and Klim Kostin from injured reserve … Reassigned forward Alexandre Doucet from Grand Rapids to Toledo (ECHL)
TONIGHT’S GAME
DETROIT RED WINGS (15-11-4) vs. ANAHEIM DUCKS (11-19-0) Monday, December 18, 2023 / 7:00 P.M. ET / LITTLE CAESARS ARENA / TV: Bally Sports Detroit Extra / RADIO: WXYT 97.1 FM
TONIGHT: 94th all-time meeting, 47th in Detroit … First of two games this season, only game at Little Caesars Arena
ALL-TIME vs. ANA: 55-25-7-6 / HOME: 35-8-3-0 / LAST 10: 5-2-3 / IN 2022-23: 1-0-1 / THIS SEASON: 0-0-0
DET top scorers vs. ANA: Patrick Kane (16-36-52 in 49 GP), Alex DeBrincat (11-12-23 in 14 GP), Jeff Petry (5-8-13 in 26 GP), Andrew Copp (4-7-11 in 20 GP), Austin Czarnik (1-4-5 in 7 GP), Michael Rasmussen (1-3-4 in 5 GP), Klim Kostin (3-1-4 in 6 GP), Daniel Sprong (3-1-4 in 6 GP), Robby Fabbri (1-3-4 in 7 GP), Lucas Raymond (0-2-2 in 4 GP), Moritz Seider (0-2-2 in 4 GP)
ANA top scorers vs. DET: Alex Killorn (12-11-23 in 43 GP), Frank Vatrano (6-11-17 in 28 GP), Adam Henrique (6-10-16 in 21 GP), Ryan Strome (5-6-11 in 22 GP), Jakob Silfverberg (4-6-10 in 18 GP), Mason McTavish (1-0-1 in 2 GP), Ross Johnston (0-1-1 in 2 GP)
NHL FIRSTS: Detroit forward Alex DeBrincat recorded his first career NHL hat trick with Chicago on Nov. 27, 2017 vs. Anaheim … Detroit forward Klim Kostin made his NHL debut with St. Louis on Nov. 16, 2019 vs. Anaheim … Detroit goaltender Ville Husso earned his first career NHL victory with St. Louis on Jan. 31, 2021 at Anaheim … Detroit forward Michael Rasmussen tallied his first career NHL point with an assist on Oct. 8, 2018 at Anaheim.
GOALS, GOALS, GOALS
* The Red Wings are fourth in the NHL with 107 goals through 30 games (excluding shootout-deciding goals). * Detroit averages the fourth-most goals per game (3.57) in the NHL through games played on Dec. 17. * The Red Wings are 15-0-3 this season when scoring four-or-more goals. * Detroit’s 6-4 win on Dec. 12 at St. Louis marked the 12th time the Red Wings have scored at least five goals in a game this season. * The Red Wings have scored 42 second-period goals, trailing only the Vancouver Canucks (46) for the league lead. * Detroit is 10-3-2 this season when scoring first, and 6-1-2 when doing so on home ice. * Detroit is a perfect 8-0-0 this season when leading after one period. The Red Wings are 12-2-0 when ahead after two periods. * The Red Wings have scored a power play goal in 10-of-13 games since returning from Sweden. In all, the Red Wings have scored 27 power play goals in 30 games to begin the 2023-24 campaign. Detroit has tallied multiple power play goals nine times this season. * Twelve different Red Wings players have scored a power play goal this season: Alex DeBrincat (4), Dylan Larkin (4), David Perron (4), Moritz Seider (3), J.T. Compher (2), Robby Fabbri (2), Shayne Gostisbehere (2), Lucas Raymond (2), Andrew Copp, Patrick Kane, Joe Veleno and Jake Walman. * The Red Wings are tied for third in the NHL in 5-on-5 goals (68). Detroit was tied for 27th last season in 5-on-5 goals (146). * The Red Wings have scored four shorthanded goals in their last nine contests. Detroit netted five shorthanded goals during the entire 2022-23 campaign.
