Anaheim @ Detroit preview
Little Caesars Arena
Last Meeting ( Jan 15, 2019 ) Anaheim 1, Detroit 3
The Detroit Red Wings owned one of the most impressive streaks in sports, advancing to the postseason for 25 straight years before missing the playoffs each of the past three seasons. The Anaheim Ducks also sat out the playoffs last season after six straight appearances but, like the Red Wings, are off to a 2-0-0 start entering Tuesday's matchup in Detroit.
The Red Wings kicked off the season with an impressive 5-3 victory in Nashville before squeezing out a 4-3 victory over Dallas in their home opener. "We beat two of the best teams out there," said forward Anthony Mantha, who scored all four goals against the Stars. "People rank those two teams among the top 10 in the league." After scoring a league-low 199 goals last season, Anaheim made a change behind the bench and hired Dallas Eakins, who has the team playing a more uptempo style. "It's kind of something we're trying to put in our game in the shift length and kind of rolling everybody over," center Adam Henrique said. "Quicker shifts kind of allows everybody to be at a higher pace."
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket, FS Detroit
ABOUT THE DUCKS (2-0-0): Ondrej Kase, who scored 20 goals in 2017-18 before he was limited to 11 tallies in 30 games last season, has been rejuvenated under Eakins, registering 11 shots on goal in the first two games and collecting two assists in Saturday's 3-1 victory over San Jose. "He was all over pucks," Eakins said. "Every time that puck was loose, he was there. Every time we had it, he was coming to it. He was moving his feet. He was excited." Goaltender John Gibson, also coming off a subpar season, has saved 67 of 69 shots.
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (2-0-0): Mantha followed up a three-point effort in Nashville with the eruption versus Dallas to earn NHL Second Star of the Week honors. It's a carry-over from last season for Mantha, who had eight goals and seven assists in the final eight games in 2018-19. "He's exponentially better when he's playing with confidence and that's what you are seeing right now," coach Jeff Blashill said. "When he's moving feet, you've got a guy who's 6-foot-5 with speed and great hands. He's showing that whole package right now."
OVERTIME
1. Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf has 11 goals and 42 points in 39 games versus Detroit.
2. Red Wings G Jimmy Howard is 11-6-3 with a 2.20 goals-against average versus Anaheim.
3. The Red Wings and Ducks have split their last eight meetings, with the home team winning the past six.
PREDICTION: Red Wings 3, Ducks 2