Ducks Begin Canada Trip After First Loss to Oilers

Anaheim Ducks head to Western Canada for a two game road trip after suffering their first loss of the season, a 5-2 defeat against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night. The Ducks will face the Winnipeg Jets on Friday and the Calgary Flames on Saturday while seeking a response after their early setback.

According to the Orange County Register, Anaheim opened the season with seven strong periods before allowing Edmonton to erase a 2-0 lead. The Ducks entered the trip with a 2-1-0 record after the loss.

Coach Joel Quenneville said the team must adjust quickly following the defeat and focus on its next challenge.

"We approached the start of the year in good shape. We got a market correction today, so let’s see how we’ll handle it. Let’s respond in the correct way," said Joel Quenneville, Ducks coach.

According to Quenneville, Anaheim's home games featured no 5-on-5 goals, with the team scoring five times on the power play across those contests. The Ducks' only even strength goals came during their 4-3 season opening win in Las Vegas.

Forward Beckett Sennecke scored twice against Edmonton and pointed to the team's speed as a key factor in its early success. He said Anaheim became less effective when games slowed down.

"We know we have a lot of fast guys, and we know when we play that way we’re tough to beat, but when we don’t, we’re not that effective," said Beckett Sennecke, Ducks winger.

Sennecke was part of an Anaheim offense that produced at a high tempo early in the season. The Ducks will next test that style against Winnipeg, which entered the matchup with a 3-0-1 record and no regulation losses.

According to the Orange County Register, the Jets have been led offensively by Kyle Connor and Cole Perfetti. Winnipeg entered the meeting without goaltender Connor Hellebuyck after his suspension for not reporting to training camp, while defenseman Josh Morrissey could miss time because of an upper body injury.

Anaheim also evaluated its lineup after 18 year old Nikita Klepov made his NHL debut against Edmonton. Klepov played just over 10 minutes and recorded five hits while skating on the right side of the third line.