The Anaheim Ducks faced a tough challenge in their recent matchup against the Edmonton Oilers, playing with a depleted roster. Key defensemen Radko Gudas and Pavel Mintyukov were sidelined due to lower-body injuries, leaving the Ducks shorthanded on the blue line.
Gudas, 35, had just come back from a five-game suspension for a knee-on-knee hit on Auston Matthews, a hit that unfortunately ended Matthews' season. On the other hand, Mintyukov, 22, had been a consistent presence for Anaheim since the Olympic break, contributing two goals and five points over 16 games.
Despite missing these crucial players, the Ducks managed to hold their own defensively. They typically allow around 28 shots per game but gave up 34 shots to the Oilers, who capitalized on three power plays. The team has yet to provide a timeline for the return of either defenseman.
Shifting focus to the Pacific Division, the Seattle Kraken encountered their own injury woes in their game against the Buffalo Sabres. Center Shane Wright was forced to leave after just 3:36 of ice time. Although there wasn’t a clear incident that led to his exit, Wright had been dealing with discomfort from an injury sustained in Thursday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
In other division news, Rick Dhaliwal from The Athletic reports that the Vancouver Canucks are unlikely to sign their recent sixth-round pick, Anthony Romani, to an entry-level contract. Romani, a standout at Michigan State University, ended his season in an overtime loss to the University of Wisconsin. With 14 goals and 27 points in 36 games, he's expected to return to the Spartans for his sophomore year, continuing to develop his promising skills on the collegiate stage.