The Ducks look to beat the winless Sharks a second time – Field Level Media – Professional sports content solutions

The Anaheim Ducks will look for another win against the Sharks to start the season when they host San Jose on Tuesday.

The Ducks opened their season with a 2-0 win over the Sharks on October 12th. Isac Lundestrom and Trevor Zegras scored goals for Anaheim, and Lukas Dostal made 30 saves for his second career shutout.

However, the Ducks have only managed one win in their four games since then. They enter Tuesday with a two-game deficit.

Anaheim lost 4-3 in overtime at the Colorado Avalanche on Friday and lost 4-1 to rival Los Angeles on Sunday. Ryan Strome scored the lone goal for the Ducks and Dostal made 32 saves against the Kings.

The Ducks have been defeated 85-33 in their last two losses. Their power play has yet to score a goal this season, going 0-for-17 in five games.

“The last two games we were just on cruise control. We’re just watching the game,” Anaheim coach Greg Cronin said. “You have to take responsibility. The NHL is a fast game. If you don’t skate to the finish line every time you backcheck, forecheck or regroup in the neutral zone, you won’t get the puck. It’s that simple.”

In five games, forward Troy Terry leads the Ducks with four points (three goals, one assist). Strome and Leo Carlsson each have two goals and one helper.

Dostal has made four starts and compiled a 2-1-1 record with a .930 save percentage and 2.48 goals-against average. The 24-year-old is 1-1-0 with a .926 save percentage and a 2.01 GAA in two career appearances against San Jose.

The second of three meetings between the clubs this season will take place on Tuesday. The Sharks and Ducks conclude the season series on April 1 in Anaheim.

This time, the Sharks travel to Anaheim looking for their first win of the season, but will have to achieve it without highly touted rookie forward Macklin Celebrini.

San Jose general manager Mike Grier announced Monday that Celebrini, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, will miss at least the next two weeks with a lower-body injury.

The 18-year-old has not played since the season opener on October 10th. He scored one goal and one assist in his NHL debut.

San Jose lost 4-1 to Colorado on Sunday night. The Sharks are winless in six games this season (0-4-2) and nine straight since last season. Their last victory came on April 11th in Seattle.

William Eklund scored a goal and Vitek Vanecek made 18 saves in Sunday’s loss to the Avalanche.

“We have to find a way to win a hockey game,” San Jose coach Ryan Warsofsky said. “We did some really good things in probably four of our six games. I guess you could say that our balance sheet could be different, but at the end of the day a balance sheet is what it says on the tin, right? I know our guys are involved and it’s important to us. We’re trying. It will come. We just have to keep going.”

Vanecek is 0-3-0 in four games this season, with an .884 save percentage and 3.14 GAA. In three career games against the Ducks, Vanecek is 1-1-1 with a .935 save percentage and a 1.98 GAA.

Sharks forward Tyler Toffoli has scored four goals this season.

–Field level media