Here’s some of what Ducks left wing Jamie McGinn said after a 2-1 loss Wednesday to the New York Rangers at the Honda Center: “I feel bad for Gibby (goaltender John Gibson). I thought we played an outstanding game tonight. It’s unfortunate we didn’t the win for him. You have to appreciate what he does between the pipes. Freddie (Andersen), as well. I thought (Gibson) deserved better.”
Gibson made 21 saves.
Key play: Jakob Silfverberg scored the only goal in a shootout as the Ducks extended their winning streak to nine consecutive games with a 3-2 victory Wednesday over the Montreal Canadiens at the Honda Center. The Ducks also tied the first-place Kings with 78 points.
Pivotal performer: Canadiens left wing Alex Galchenyuk scored twice to help Montreal take a 2-1 lead 56 seconds into the third period, his 18th and 19th goals of the season. He also scored in the second to give the Canadiens a 1-0 advantage at 4:25.
Smashing debut: Left wing Jamie McGinn scored in his Ducks debut, a second-period goal from point-blank range that tied the score 1-all at 14:28. McGinn played on a line with center Rickard Rakell and right win Corey Perry. He was credited with four shots in 15:35 of ice time.
Quote, unquote: “It’s definitely good to get it out of the way quick,” McGinn said of scoring his first goal with the Ducks after a trade Monday from the Buffalo Sabres. “You don’t want it to take too long. You want to feel part of the team right away and contribute any way you can.”
Between the pipes: John Gibson started for the Ducks for the second consecutive game after he was in goal for a 4-2 victory Sunday over the Kings. Frederik Andersen is expected to play Thursday against the Coyotes in Glendale, Ariz., with Gibson likely back to face the Kings on Saturday.
Lineup shuffle: Ducks defenseman Simon Despres couldn’t play because of an illness. Clayton Stoner replaced him, returning to the lineup for the first time since Jan. 15. He sat out 14 games because of a hip flexor injury and was a healthy scratch for four more contests.
Jamie McGinn and Brandon Pirri, the Ducks’ newest forwards, were expected to arrive in Orange County late Tuesday, too late for interviews. McGinn was scheduled to participate in Wednesday’s morning skate and to be available to play in that night’s game against the Montreal Canadiens. Pirri is on injured reserve with an ankle injury and could be sidelined for several more games.
Here’s what Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said when asked Tuesday about McGinn, who was acquired Monday from the Buffalo Sabres:
“That’s how McGinn gets his goals, goes to the net and stands in front. From what I gather, he’s a pretty big guy. We just saw him last week. He’s a big strong forward, so the more guys you can get like that come playoff time, the better.
“He’s a good player for us. (Andrew) Ladd (who went from Winnipeg to Chicago in a trade) has more experience, but McGinn is a really good fit for our team. That’s what we’re looking for, good fits. Some guys might be tremendous players, but aren’t a good fit for the team. I really think he’s going to be a really good fit.”
Here’s Boudreau on Pirri, who was acquired Monday from the Florida Panthers:
“I know he can score. I know he would score whenever Chicago called him up and the announcers would say, ‘Well, why’s he going back?’ He scored 22 (goals) last year. I don’t know much else about him. I look forward to seeing him and watching some tape of him. Any time you’ve got another offense threat who can skate like him is going to be a good addition to our lineup.”
The Ducks acquired left wing Jamie McGinn for a conditional third-round draft pick in a deadline deal with the Buffalo Sabres. McGinn had 14 goals and 27 points in 63 games for the Sabres this season. He is listed at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds. He has a $2.95-million salary-cap hit and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.
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