The Anaheim Geese have been beating the NHL’s finest currently and may have one other likelihood Sunday when the Tampa Bay Lightning end their three-game California highway swing.
Throughout a current three-game successful streak, the Geese acquired a serious increase from proper winger Troy Terry.
In his fourth full NHL marketing campaign in 2021-22, Terry broke out by hitting the web 37 occasions and including 30 assists in a 67-point output in 75 video games — a 0.49 goals-per-game common that simmered over the following two seasons.
He presently has 13 targets and 18 assists for 31 factors to guide Anaheim in all three classes.
Skating on the highest line with left winger Frank Vatrano and middle Ryan Strome, Terry has 4 targets and two assists up to now 5 matches, together with the time beyond regulation game-winner in Winnipeg on Thursday.
That gave his membership three straight victories over the Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils and Jets.
Anaheim has rallied to win seven occasions within the third interval and 4 occasions from multi-goal deficits, second general within the league.
“The distinction this yr, once we go down a objective there with two minutes left, we now have a bit of bit extra swagger and confidence that we’re OK and may nonetheless tie this sport up,” Terry stated. “Regardless of the place the sport is at, we now have confidence within the group that we are able to pull it off.”
But after erasing a two-goal deficit in Edmonton on Friday for a third-period tie, Anaheim had its successful streak finish as Leon Draisaitl scored with 95 seconds remaining for a 3-2 Oilers win.
Vatrano has 9 targets and 11 assists this season, whereas Strome owns seven tallies and 14 helpers.
Of their all-time collection with the Geese, the Lightning have been victorious in 5 straight matches and eight of the previous 9, however they go to Anaheim on a three-game dropping skid.
Sunday’s sport would be the again finish of their fifth back-to-back set this season. The Lightning slipped to 2-3-0 on the entrance finish Saturday evening with a second consecutive 2-1 loss, this time to the host Los Angeles Kings.
Tampa Bay is 2-2-0 within the second video games.
After departing Thursday’s sport in opposition to the San Jose Sharks bloodied from taking a puck to the ear, Victor Hedman tallied on the primary shot of the sport in opposition to the Kings for his fifth objective. The 2018 Norris Trophy winner has 24 assists.
Frustration mounted within the loss to the tight-checking Kings, who gained their ninth straight house conflict.
“It is irritating, I felt like we had been tilting the ice,” Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh stated. “It is powerful to consider an ethical victory at this level within the season.”
With high goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (19 saves) dropping for the third time in 4 outings, Jonas Johansson possible will begin in opposition to Anaheim.
The 29-year-old Johansson has been a dependable substitute for one of many world’s high goalies although the Swede dropped his most up-to-date resolution 5-2 to the Montreal Canadiens to finish 2024.
Within the prior three begins, Johansson denied 86 of 89 photographs (.966 save proportion) in wins over the Nashville Predators, Seattle Kraken and Florida Panthers, whom the netminder blanked with 36 saves.
Johansson is 4-2-1 with a 3.36 goals-against common and a .900 save proportion.
Arduous-hitting defenseman Erik Cernak (9 assists) will skate in his four-hundredth NHL sport Sunday and is three factors from reaching 100 in his seven-year profession.
–Area Degree Media
