Tag Archives: Rickard Rakell

Ducks notes, quotes and lineup ahead of Tuesday’s game against San Jose

Posted on by
Reply

The Ducks went back to work Tuesday at Honda Center, skating together for the first time since suffering a 2-1 overtime loss last Thursday to the Ottawa Senators in the last game of a six-game cross-continent trip that took them to the Christmas break.

The biggest topic for discussion before the third-place Ducks (17-12-6) faced the Pacific Division-leading San Jose Sharks (21-12-1) was hitting the re-set button on a season that’s featured wildly inconsistent play over the first 35 games. The midway point in the 82-game regular season is right around the corner and time for improvement is at hand.

“After a three- or four-day break with family and friends we should all be refreshed and looking forward to getting this thing going again against an obviously great opponent and a big rival of ours to start out here,” Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler said.

What needs to change for the rest of the season?

Everything.

Nothing.

“There shouldn’t be any confusion, any question marks about what is expected in certain situations,” Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. “That’s been our message. It was our message before we left for the break and it’s our message again when they came back this morning, that we’re going to hold them accountable to that.”

The Ducks’ lineup (see below) looked pretty much the same as before the break, with Rickard Rakell back at left wing on a line with center Ryan Getzlaf and right wing Corey Perry. Carlyle broke them up in order to get Rakell moving better during the loss to the Senators.

Carlyle also said Tuesday he likes Rakell on left wing, but that eventually he’d prefer to have the 23-year-old Swede at center. Rakell’s scalding start to the season was aided in part because he was playing with Getzlaf and Perry. Rakell had 14 goals and 21 points in 24 games before the break.

Here are the Ducks’ lines, pairs and expected starting goalie.

Rakell-Getzlaf-Perry

Cogliano-Kesler-Silfverberg

Ritchie-Vermette-Kase

Cramarossa-Shaw-Boll

Fowler-Vatanen

Lindholm-Manson

Bieksa-Theodore

Gibson

Bernier

The Sharks skated in San Jose at their practice facility and then flew south.

Tommy Wingels isn’t expected to play, but Michael Haley is.

Ducks’ list of free agents (restricted and unrestricted)

Posted on by
Reply

Free agency begins July 1, and Ducks general manager Bob Murray figures to be busy. Here’s a list of the Ducks’ unrestricted free agents (those eligible to sign with other teams without the Ducks having the right to match their offers), via the indispensable website generalfanager.com:

Forwards Shawn Horcoff, Jamie McGinn, David Perron, Mike Santorelli, Chris Stewart, defenseman Korbinian Holzer and goaltender Anton Khudobin.

Here are the Ducks’ restricted free agents (those whose rights the Ducks continue to hold):

Forwards Brandon Pirri and Rickard Rakell, defensemen Hampus Lindholm and Sami Vatanen and goalie Frederik Andersen.

 

Ducks exit interviews: Rickard Rakell

Posted on by
Reply

Ducks center Rickard Rakell said Saturday he never regained his fitness after undergoing an appendectomy near the end of the regular season. He said he wasn’t himself for the Ducks’ first-round playoff loss to the Nashville Predators. Here’s more of his conversation with reporters:

“I don’t want to used it as an excuse, but I didn’t feel the same as before it happened. I tried to do everything I can to come back as good as I can. Obviously, I wish I could have helped the team a little bit more. … I got tired quicker and just battling with other players, I felt like I was stronger and could have protected the puck better (before the surgery). … There was a lot of pain in the end. The first few days, I still had holes in my stomach and it was hurting a little bit, but it was manageable and nothing I really tried to think about during the games.”

 

Ducks hurting for certain going into regular season’s home stretch

Posted on by
Reply

The Ducks announced a number of injuries and illnesses after Friday’s morning skate at the Honda Center. Here’s the list:

Goalie Frederik Andersen suffered a concussion during a relief appearance during an 8-3 victory Wednesday against the Calgary Flames. He was unavailable to play in Friday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks. His layoff is to be determined, but the Ducks recalled Anton Khudobin from San Diego of the AHL.

Left wing David Perron has a separated right shoulder and will be lost to the team for between four to six weeks, an MRI revealed. Perron was hurt during the Ducks’ victory March 20 over the Winnipeg Jets. Perron sat out for the sixth game Friday. He has been able to work out in the gym, but hasn’t resumed skating yet.

Center Rickard Rakell underwent an appendectomy and will be sidelined for up to one week. Chris Wagner was recalled from San Diego to fill his spot. Rakell fell ill and couldn’t play Wednesday. It was later determined that he needed an appendectomy. Ryan Getzlaf had a similar procedure earlier this season.

Defenseman Hampus Lindholm was sent home before the morning skate Friday because he was ill.

The Ducks also were without defensemen Kevin Bieksa and Simon Despres because of upper-body injuries.

Freeway Series game report: Ducks 3, Kings 2

Posted on by
Reply

Key play: Jakob Silfverberg’s power-play goal early in the third period propelled the Ducks to a 3-2 victory Saturday over the Kings at Staples Center, breaking a first-place tie in the Pacific Division. The victory extended the Ducks’ winning streak to 11 consecutive games, a club record.

Pivotal performer: Ducks center Rickard Rakell came within a goal of his first Gordie Howe hat trick in NHL. In addition to his assist on Silfverberg’s power-play strike, he got into a first-period fight only 6:58 into the game. He also played a strong all-around game.

Dropping the gloves: Rakell scored a decisive victory over the Kings’ Kris Versteeg to cap a first-period melee between the teams. Rakell landed several right hands to Versteeg’s face and head during his first fight in the NHL.

Quote, unquote: “I’m usually a pretty nice guy,” Rakell said.

Injury update: Versteeg suffered what the Kings called an upper-body injury and was said to be questionable to return to the game. He played only 2:10, all in the first period, in his second game since the Kings acquired him last Sunday from the Carolina Hurricanes.

Milestone moment: Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau recorded his 400th career coaching victory in his 663th game in the NHL, the fastest in league history. Overall, he is 400-186-77 during his coaching career with the Ducks and the Washington Capitals.

Illness update: Ducks defenseman Simon Despres returned to the Ducks’ lineup after sitting out Thursday’s victory at Arizona and Wednesday’s shootout win over the Montreal Canadiens. Clayton Stoner was scratched after filling in for Despres the last two games.

Between the pipes: Jonathan Quick made his 52 appearance in goal for the Kings. Frederik Andersen returned to the Ducks’ net after he was in goal for a 5-1 victory Thursday over the Arizona Coyotes as Boudreau stuck to his recent two games on, two games off game plan.

Special teams: The Ducks’ power-play unit clicked for the 11th consecutive game, with David Perron extending the streak with a man-advantage goal that made it 2-1 late in the second period. The Ducks were 17 for 17 on the power play in their past three games before Saturday.

Game report: Ducks 2, Oilers 1 (OT)

Posted on by
Reply

Key play: Rickard Rakell scored 1:24 into overtime to give the Ducks a 2-1 victory Friday over the Edmonton Oilers at the Honda Center, extending their winning streak to seven games. Rakell faked the Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl out of position and then lifted a backhanded shot over goalie Cam Talbot.

Pivotal performer: Team captain Ryan Getzlaf extended his point streak to 10 consecutive games with a third-period power-play goal that gave the Ducks a 1-0 lead. Getzlaf has five goals and 15 points during his streak, the longest active one in the NHL.

Quote, unquote: “It was a good feeling,” Rakell said of scoring his 16th goal of the season. “I didn’t think too much. I just kind of reacted. I saw they had the forward and the defenseman there. Three-on-three, everything can happen, so I just tried to do something.”

Status quo: Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau stayed with the same 18 skaters for the seventh consecutive game, or since left wing Chris Stewart suffered a fractured jaw during a 4-3 overtime loss Feb. 11 to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Between the pipes: Frederik Andersen started for the second consecutive game for the Ducks and made 17 saves. Talbot started for the second consecutive night for the Oilers and made 32 saves, after he was in goal for a 2-1 loss Thursday to the Kings at Staples Center.

Game report: Ducks 3, Wild 1

Posted on by
Reply

Key play: Rickard Rakell scored the tiebreaking goal by completing a tic-tac-toe passing sequence and the Ducks rallied for a 3-1 victory Wednesday against the Minnesota Wild at the Honda Center. Patrick Maroon and Corey Perry assisted on Rakell’s 10th goal of the season, a career high.

Pivotal performer: Rookie defenseman Shea Theodore assisted on Chris Stewart’s game-tying goal in the first period for his fourth point in as many games (one goal, three assists). Theodore scored his first NHL goal and point in the Ducks’ victory Jan. 13 over the Ottawa Senators.

Line shifts: Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau split up “The Twins” in an attempt to wring more offense out of his lines. Center Ryan Getzlaf played between wingers David Perron and Chris Stewart. Right wing Perry skated with left wing Maroon and center Rakell.

Quote, unquote: “It was a really nice goal, there’s no doubt, but it was a pretty sloppy game and ended up with a beautiful, beautiful goal,” Boudreau said of Rakell’s game-winner. “It was such a sloppy game, it was hard to tell (how effective the new line combinations where. But when you look Getzlaf’s line got a goal, (Andrew) Cogliano’s line got a goal and Perry’s got a goal. So, we got three goals from three different lines, which is good.”

Roster move: The Ducks reassigned goaltender Anton Khudobin to the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League. They recalled him Sunday after Frederik Andersen was sidelined by an upper-body injury. Khudobin didn’t play in the Ducks’ 4-3 loss to the Kings that night. Andersen served as John Gibson’s backup Wednesday against the Wild.

Game report: Ducks 4, Jets 1

Posted on by
Reply

Key play: Right wing Corey Perry blasted a shot from the left wing into the back of the net for his team-leading 14th goal of the season to give the Ducks a commanding three-goal lead early in the second period of what became a 4-1 victory Sunday over the Winnipeg Jets at the Honda Center.

Pivotal performers: Ducks left wing Rickard Rakell scored one goal and assisted on another and defenseman Kevin Bieksa also had a goal and an assist. Rakell’s goal was his eighth of the season; Bieksa’s was his first since an off-season trade from the Vancouver Canucks.

Quote, unquote: “It’s nice to contribute,” Bieksa said. “We talked about how we really batten down the hatches defensively. We’re pretty stingy now. At the end of the day, we have to score a couple of goals to get some wins. It’s nice to get four tonight.”

Milestone moment: Ducks goaltender John Gibson earned the second assist on Perry’s goal, his first NHL point in his 41st career game. Gibson played the puck up to Rakell, who passed it to Perry, who completed the play by beating Jets goalie Michael Hutchinson.

Going streaking: Gibson’s scoreless streak ended at 184:30, when teammate Winnipeg defenseman Tyler Myers was credited with a goal at 6:56 of the second period. Myers’ shot actually deflected off the stick of retreating Ducks forward Carl Hagelin and into the net.

Game report: Ducks 4, Canucks 0

Posted on by
Reply

Typewriter

Key play: Left wing Rickard Rakell’s power-play goal with three seconds remaining in the first period capped a wild scramble for the puck and gave the Ducks a two goal-lead en route to a 4-0 victory Monday over the Vancouver Canucks at the Honda Center.

Pivotal performer: Jakob Silfverberg skated down the right wing and then sent a laser into the back of the Canucks’ net to give the Ducks a 3-0 lead exactly one minute into the third period. Rookie left wing Nick Ritchie assisted on the goal for his first NHL point in his eighth game in the league.

Between the pipes: John Gibson started for the Ducks for the third consecutive game in place of Frederik Andersen, who was sidelined by an illness for several days. Gibson made 25 saves for his third career shutout, his second against Vancouver. He blanked the Canucks 3-0 in his NHL debut April 7, 2014 at Vancouver. Ryan Miller started for the Canucks, but was replaced by Jacob Markstrom after Corey Perry’s third-period goal made it 4-0.

Quote, unquote: “We scored early, which was important,” Ducks center Ryan Kesler said. “Our power play got one late (in the first period). I think every asset of our game was pretty good tonight. I don’t think we had a full 60 tonight, but I thought we played well for a full 60. We played good enough to win.”

Injury updates: Ducks left wing Patrick Maroon suffered a raspberry when he was struck in the side by the skate of Vancouver’s Jared McCann in the third period. Center Nate Thompson (shoulder) and left wing Jiri Sekac (ankle) participated in the Ducks’ morning skate. Thompson completed a weekend conditioning assignment with San Diego of the AHL. Sekac’s return to the lineup could take a while longer. He hasn’t been cleared for full contact.