Game #20: Ducks vs. Kraken game day preview

ANAHEIM, Calif. – In their first two straight meetings, the Ducks face the Seattle Kraken at home tonight before meeting in the return game on November 27th in Seattle.

The Ducks come into this game having picked up points in their last four games and five of their last six games. Their three-game winning streak was snapped in their final game, a 3-2 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres.

The Kraken’s last game was a 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on November 23rd. They are currently without defenseman Vince Dunn, who has been out since October 17 with a mid-body injury, and captain Jordan Eberle, who underwent pelvic surgery on November 22 and will be out for at least three months.

Related: Kraken vs. Ducks pre-game stat package

Brian Dumoulin will play against his former team tonight for the first time since being acquired by the Ducks last summer. Dumoulin said he was able to spend time with some of his former teammates yesterday.

“They work hard,” Dumoulin said. “Every single line is competitive and a lot of their players are really tenacious. They have a good balance with guys who can score on any line. Their defense is solid. They play a solid game, defend well and wait for their chances.”

“(Brandon) Montour is up and down the ice,” Ducks head coach Greg Cronin said. “He’s an offensive guy. (Josh) Mahura is a great player. They will come into play. Defenders who commit offensively can cause problems for the other team.”

Mason McTavish will return to the lineup after missing the last six games with an upper-body injury. He is expected to center the fourth line with Ross Johnston and Sam Colangelo on his flanks.

“I thought he was playing well when he got hurt,” Cronin said. “He scored goals, he got to the top of the net. If (McTavish) plays well, you’ll see him work his way to the front of the net. You’ll see him win puck battles in the offensive zone and make plays from those wins.

Ducks projected lines

Trevor Zegras – Leo Carlsson – Alex Killorn
Frank Vatrano – Ryan Strome – Troy Terry
Cutter Gauthier – Isac Lundeström – Brett Leason
Ross Johnston – Mason McTavish – Sam Colangelo

Pavel Mintyukov – Radko Gudas
Jackson LaCombe-Olen Zellweger
Brian Dumoulin – Drew Helleson

Lukáš Dostál (confirmed)

Kraken Projected Lines

Jared McCann – Matty Beniers – Andre Burakovsky
Jaden Schwartz – Chandler Stephenson – Daniel Sprong
Eeli Tolvanen – Yanni Gourde – Oliver Björkstrand
Brandon Tanev – Shane Wright – Tye Kartye

Ryker Evans-Adam Larsson
Jamie Oleksiak – Brandon Montour
Josh Mahura – Will Borgen

Joey Daccord (projected)