Final
Ducks put hot start to the test in Chicago
Oct 28, 2014 - 3:09 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Anaheim Ducks will put their quick start to the test on Tuesday night as they kick off what is expected to be a tough four-game road trip with a clash against the Chicago Blackhawks.The Ducks are coming off just their second loss of the season and first since their initial game of the schedule back on Oct. 9. They won seven in a row after that defeat, but were bested 4-1 on Sunday night by the San Jose Sharks.
Anaheim was defeated in its first game against a divisional opponent and after a five-game homestand will now play four straight on the road against playoff teams from a season ago.
The Ducks fell behind by two goals in the first period on Sunday and never recovered, with Frederik Andersen giving up four tallies on 37 shots faced and Matt Beleskey scoring in the third frame.
"In the first and second periods, they played like the Sharks can play. They were extremely good, and we weren't ready," Anaheim head coach Bruce Boudreau said.
It was a testy game between division rivals, with the clubs combining for 165 penalty minutes. Anaheim's Corey Perry, Ben Lovejoy and Ryan Getzlaf all received fighting majors at one point and Perry picked up a 10-minute game misconduct in the third period.
"Tensions ran high for both teams. We dealt with them. We stuck together as a group. That's the main thing," said Getzlaf.
The camaraderie did come at a cost as Lovejoy suffered a fractured right finger during a fight with Joe Pavelski and is expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks of action.
The Blackhawks hope to give the Ducks a rude welcome to Chicago tonight after snapping a two-game skid with Sunday's 2-1 win over Ottawa. Scott Darling made his NHL debut in net for Chicago and posted 32 saves in the win.
A native of the Chicago suburbs, Darling was recalled earlier last week after starting goaltender Corey Crawford went down with an upper-body injury.
"The guys played great, helped me out a lot," Darling said.
Jonathan Toews and Brent Seabrook both scored for the Blackhawks, while Patrick Kane registered his 500th point with an assist on Toews' goal.
Crawford has missed the last four games and Antti Raanta is likely to start again tonight. He has faced the Ducks only once before, taking a shootout loss on Dec. 6 in Anaheim after giving up two goals on 26 shots through overtime.
Andersen has never faced the Blackhawks.
The 'Hawks had lost five in a row to the Ducks before winning the final two meetings last season. They have won only once in their past four at home versus Anaheim.
- ANAHEIM: 1
CHICAGO: 0
Final
Oct 28 11:04 PM - Anaheim Short-Handed Goal - Devante Smith-Pelly (3), at 11:32.
Ducks 1, Blackhawks 0 3rd - 8:28Oct 28 10:46 PM - ANAHEIM: 0
CHICAGO: 0
End of 2nd
Oct 28 10:08 PM - ANAHEIM: 0
CHICAGO: 0
End of 1st
Oct 28 9:15 PM - ANAHEIM: 0
CHICAGO: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Oct 28 8:39 PM
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