The Ducks have gone 2-0 on the road with wins over the San Jose Sharks (5-2) and Coyotes (1-0) and 1-0 at home with a 3-2 shootout triumph over the Detroit Red Wings on Monday - 25 years to the day of their inaugural game. It took a comeback effort from the Ducks on Monday night with goals from Hampus Lindholm and Jakob Silfverberg to erase separate one-goal deficits. Then, in the shootout, Troy Terry scored with a patented five-hole shot while John Gibson denied all three shooters to seal the victory.
It was another stellar effort for Gibson, who became the first goaltender in franchise history to start and win the first three games of a season. The 25-year-old netminder has allowed just four goals through three games.
"He's been our MVP for the three games," head coach Randy Carlyle said following the win on Monday. "You don't have a starting point in the NHL if you don't have goaltending. He's been giving us A-class goaltending here for the first three games, that's for sure."
The Coyotes haven't played since their 1-0 home-opening loss against the Ducks last Saturday. Not only are the Coyotes still searching for their first win, they're also searching for their first goal. They've been shut out twice thus far, beginning with a 3-0 loss last Thursday in Dallas.
Despite their lack of scoring, the Coyotes enter tonight's game as one of six teams that has yet to give up a power-play goal this season. Antti Raanta is also one of eight NHL goaltenders to have given up four goals or less among netminders that have started at least two games this season.
"They're going to be coming in here well-rested, and I'm sure with revenge on their table front and center," said Carlyle. "We're going to have to reach back and create that emotion and level of compete that's necessary to be competitive against a pretty good skating hockey club."
The Ducks come in with a 74-36-19 all-time mark vs. the Coyotes, including a 41-16-8 record at home. They've won nine of their last 11 (9-2-0) against the Coyotes and own a 121:01 scoreless streak against them dating to Feb. 24, 2018.
