Here is what to expect when the Anaheim Ducks host the Winnipeg Jets for Game 2 of their opening-round series at Honda Center:
The Ducks took a 1-0 series lead with a 4-2 win in a hard-hitting, back-and-forth opener, and it appears both teams will field identical lineups for Game 2. That means Ondrej Pavelec and Frederik Andersen will start in net for the Jets and Ducks, respectively.
The only potential question regarding either lineup will be the inclusion of center Mathieu Perreault, who has been out since April 9 with a lower-body injury. With captain Andrew Ladd taking a maintenance day and sitting out the morning skate, Perreault was slotted in the wing spot on the top line alongside Bryan Little and Michael Frolik. Perreault, who played last season with the Ducks, described himself as a game-time decision pending how he feels following warm-ups.
"We'll see. It felt pretty good this morning," Perreault said. "I'm going to probably be a game-time decision to see what the coaches think."
If Perreault does play, expect him to have a considerable role on the Jets' power play. Winnipeg went 0-for-3 with the man advantage in Game 1 and is 1-for-25 in its past seven games. Those struggles on the power play were magnified in Game 1, which was decided by two Ducks power-play goals in the third period.
Goaltender John Gibson and center Nate Thompson remain out for the Ducks with upper-body injuries. Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau mentioned Saturday that having his only left-handed center out of the lineup was an inconvenience, but Rickard Rakell doesn't appear out of place centering the third line, and Anaheim's depth down the middle is coming in handy at a good time.
Anaheim's top offensive players certainly were ready for Game 1, as Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry combined for three goals and seven points. Perry provided the tying and winning goals in the third, while Getzlaf's power-play marker with 3:05 remaining in regulation iced the victory. Winnipeg's top forwards, on the other hand, weren't nearly as productive. Ladd, Little and Blake Wheeler all went pointless on Thursday and will need to step up if the Jets are to even this series before heading back for the city of Winnipeg's first playoff game in 19 years.
Along with Ladd, Winnipeg defenseman Tyler Myers also enjoyed a maintenance day. Despite skipping the Jets' skate, he is expected to be in his regular spot on the blue line alongside Tobias Enstrom.
The series has already taken on a rather physical tone. Anaheim and Winnipeg combined for 83 hits in Game 1, including a number of big-time body checks. Following his skate Saturday, Jets coach Paul Maurice acknowledged the hitting in that game was "above NHL norms."
Boudreau on whether he expects Game 2 to have the same physicality as the series opener: "I don't think either team is going to change. It would be a shock to me if both teams changed what they've done all year to be successful. If it's a physical game, it's a physical game. They like playing that way, we like playing that way. So you've got to believe it's going to be a physical game."
Projected lineups:
WINNIPEG
Andrew Ladd -- Bryan Little -- Michael Frolik
Drew Stafford -- Mark Scheifele -- Blake Wheeler
Jiri Tlusty -- Adam Lowry -- Lee Stempniak
Chris Thorburn -- Jim Slater -- Matt Halischuk
Ben Chiarot -- Dustin Byfuglien
ANAHEIM
Patrick Maroon -- Ryan Getzlaf -- Corey Perry
Matt Beleskey -- Ryan Kesler -- Kyle Palmieri
Andrew Cogliano -- Rickard Rakell -- Jakob Silfverberg
Emerson Etem -- Chris Wagner -- Tim Jackman