LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Anaheim Ducks could be without three more injured regulars when they attempt to even their second-round series against the Los Angeles Kings in Game 4 on Saturday.
The Ducks might be dropping like flies, yet their depth and balance have been among their greatest strengths during the best season in franchise history.
If Mathieu Perreault, Matt Beleskey and goalie Frederik Andersen are all unable to play at Staples Center, the top-seeded Ducks have a sizable reserve of little-known talent ready to step into the spotlight against the playoff-tested Kings.
It’s not an ideal situation, but the Ducks feel they’re equipped to handle it.
“We have three guys on our team that are probably irreplaceable,” Ducks defenseman Ben Lovejoy said. “Other than that, we have a lot of guys that can step in and contribute.”
Anaheim has the star power of Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Teemu Selanne, but the Ducks are also fueled by lesser-known veterans like Andrew Cogliano, Daniel Winnik, Perreault and Lovejoy.
Casual hockey fans who go to bed before the West Coast NHL games might not know much about the homegrown Anaheim talents of Patrick Maroon, Sami Vatanen or John Gibson, but they’re likely to find out all about them if the Ducks keep moving forward against Los Angeles.
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