Ducks winger Nick Ritchie to make NHL debut vs. Hurricanes

DUCKS AT HURRICANES

Faceoff: 4 p.m.

TV/Radio: Prime / 830-AM

Update: Ducks rookie Nick Ritchie is set to make his NHL debut Monday against the Carolina Hurricanes. He skated with center Ryan Kesler and right wing Chris Stewart during the morning skate, according to reports from Raleigh, N.C. “Obviously they’re both pretty good players in this league,” Ritchie told reporters. “It’s going to be a pretty good opportunity for me tonight. I’m just going to play my game and, hopefully, I can help those guys.”

The Ducks recalled Ritchie and Michael Sgarbossa from their AHL team in San Diego on Saturday, hoping the Gulls’ one-two scoring punch can bolster their wonky offense going into a four-game trip that begins today in Raleigh, N.C. The 19-year-old Ritchie has nine goals in 12 games while playing on a line with Sgarbossa. Ritchie was a first-round draft pick in 2014 (10th overall). The Ducks have points in six of their last seven games to improve to 5-8-4 after a 1-7-2 start to the season. They were fifth in the Pacific Division at the start of business around the league Sunday. They also were last in the NHL with only 29 goals in 17 games. Corey Perry leads the Ducks with five goals and 11 points.

Carolina is 6-9-2 after a loss Saturday to the Philadelphia Flyers.