A pair of division cellar-dwelling teams will look to take the first step toward turning around their fortunes on Saturday when the Anaheim Ducks visit the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Anaheim has mustered just seven goals en route to losing a season-high five games in a row (0-4-1).
Columbus hasn’t fared much better, totaling 13 goals while losing five of its last six games (1-4-1).
Anaheim defenseman Jackson LaCombe collected a goal and an assist in the Ducks’ 3-2 setback to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.
While the end result was not the desired one, Anaheim head coach Greg Cronin found a silver lining in his team’s performance.
“We skated more (Thursday),” Cronin said before referencing the Ducks’ 5-1 setback to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday.
“Ottawa was skating 100 miles an hour and we were skating about 60 and I thought (Thursday) we had a lot of pace and urgency. You worry about getting in late at night and some energy starts to drop. At the start of the third period we lost a little bit of our energy but we brought it back there midway through the third. It was unfortunate we couldn’t get a point.”
Anaheim recorded two points in its last meeting with Columbus, a 4-2 victory at home on Nov. 10. LaCombe also scored in that game and Trevor Zegras logged a season-high 22:05 of ice time versus the Blue Jackets.
Zegras will not be around for the rematch after he underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee on Thursday. He is expected to be sidelined for approximately six weeks.
Columbus’ Zach Werenski scored a power-play goal in his second consecutive contest on Thursday, but the Blue Jackets were unable to generate any more offense in their 2-1 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals.
Werenski became the first defenseman in franchise history to reach the 100-goal plateau.
“It doesn’t really mean much, but it is cool for sure,” Werenski said. “When you look back at your career, as a defenseman … I don’t want to stop there, but it’s a milestone for sure. It’s a cool moment.”
Werenski’s power-play goal in the second period on Thursday extended his home point streak to eight games.
Kent Johnson set up Werenski’s tally to extend his point streak to three games (three goals, two assists).
Like Anaheim, Columbus also is searching for positives and has found one in Jet Greaves. He made 35 saves in his season debut, one day after being recalled from AHL affiliate Cleveland.
“I think there are a lot of positives I’ll take going forward and also some things I’ll look at try to learn from and get better at moving forward,” Greaves said. “I felt comfortable. The guys did a good job in front of me and that made the game a little bit simpler.”
Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason also was pleased with what he saw from the 23-year-old goaltender.
“Fantastic. Obviously, it’s a team game but I’d argue he won a point for us,” Evason said. “For us to get a point in that game is fortunate.”
–Field Level Media