The Ducks are set to begin a unique 56-game schedule in which they will see the same seven opponents over and over for the entire season. Here’s a glance at eight must-watch games:
THURSDAY AT VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Season opener against one of the three top teams in the renamed and realigned West Division. It’s the first of a two-game set, which will be the standard format during the abbreviated schedule. So get used to it.
Player to watch: Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore continues to be The One Who Got Away in Ducks general manager Bob Murray’s last expansion draft maneuvering.
JAN. 18 VS. MINNESOTA WILD
No fans will be admitted to Honda Center to start the season because of coronavirus health restrictions. Things could change and fans could attend in limited numbers if matters improve.
Player to watch: Let’s make this one the player you want to watch but probably won’t since forward Trevor Zegras was assigned to the San Diego Gulls of the AHL to start the season.
JAN. 22 VS. COLORADO AVALANCHE
First look of the season at Nate MacKinnon and the youthful and talented Avalanche, one of the trendy picks to make a deep run playoff run this season, perhaps all the way to the Stanley Cup Final.
Player to watch: There’s been plenty of chatter about MacKinnon skating toward a possible run at the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s MVP. Win or lose, he’s always Colorado’s focal point.
FEB. 2 AT KINGS
The first of eight games between the Southern California rivals in the altered schedule. It’ll be a warmup for a stretch later in the season when the Ducks face the Kings in five consecutive games.
Player to watch: Kings center Anze Kopitar was a joy to watch during the franchise’s three-season run at or near the top of the NHL, and little has changed despite the team’s decline.
FEB. 13 AT SAN JOSE SHARKS
The NHL gave the Sharks a road-heavy schedule to start the season after Santa Clara County health officials banned them from holding training camp in San Jose because of coronavirus concerns.
Player to watch: Sharks goaltender Martin Jones fell into the much maligned category of players as San Jose faded from contention last season. Will he still be in net when the teams play?
MARCH 22-24 AT MINNESOTA WILD
First two games on a season-high six-game trip, both of which will be on national TV, which is the reason for the early faceoffs (4:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.). Will road games be any different without fans or limited attendance?
Player to watch: The trade deadline is April 12, which means the rumor mill is likely to be cranked up to full throttle as the Ducks play these games. Whose names will be mentioned most often in possible deals?
MAY 1 VS. KINGS
The final game of the Ducks’ five-game series with the Kings. How much animosity will be built up by this point? Will this game or any late-season contests matter in the game scheme of things?
Player to watch: Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick sparked their Stanley Cup victories in 2012 and ’14, but will he have been moved aside in favor of possible new No. 1 Cal Petersen?
Ducks 2020-21 Season Schedule
Jan. 14 at Vegas 7 p.m.
Jan. 16 at Vegas 7 p.m.
Jan. 18 vs. Minnesota 6 p.m.
Jan. 20 vs. Minnesota 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 22 vs. Colorado 7 p.m.
Jan. 24 vs. Colorado 5 p.m.
Jan. 26 at Arizona 6 p.m.
Jan. 28 at Arizona 6 p.m.
Jan. 30 vs. St. Louis 6 p.m.
Jan. 31 vs. St. Louis 5 p.m.
Feb. 2 at Kings 7 p.m.
Feb. 5 vs. San Jose 7 p.m.
Feb. 6 vs. San Jose 7 p.m.
Feb. 9 at Vegas 7 p.m.
Feb. 11 at Vegas 7 p.m.
Feb. 13 at San Jose 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 15 at San Jose 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 18 vs. Minnesota 7 p.m.
Feb. 20 vs. Minnesota 6 p.m.
Feb. 22 at Arizona 6 p.m.
Feb. 24 at Arizona 6 p.m.
Feb. 26 vs. Vegas 7 p.m.
Feb. 27 vs. Vegas 7 p.m.
March 1 vs. St. Louis 7 p.m.
March 3 vs. St. Louis 6:30 p.m.
March 5 at Colorado 6 p.m.
March 6 at Colorado 5 p.m.
March 8 vs. Kings 7 p.m.
March 10 vs. Kings 6:30 p.m.
March 12 vs. San Jose 7 p.m.
March 13 vs. San Jose 7 p.m.
March 16 vs. Arizona 7 p.m.
March 18 vs. Arizona 7 p.m.
March 22 at Minnesota 4:30 p.m.
March 24 at Minnesota 2:30 p.m.
March 26 at St. Louis 5 p.m.
March 27 at St. Louis 5 p.m.
March 29 at Colorado 6 p.m.
March 31 at Colorado 6:30 p.m.
April 2 vs. Arizona 7 p.m.
April 4 vs. Arizona 6 p.m.
April 9 vs. Colorado 7 p.m.
April 11 vs. Colorado 5 p.m.
April 12 at San Jose 7:30 p.m.
April 14 at San Jose 7:30 p.m.
April 16 vs. Vegas 7 p.m.
April 18 vs. Vegas 1 p.m.
April 20 at Kings 7 p.m.
April 26 at Kings 7 p.m.
April 28 at Kings 7 p.m.
April 30 vs. Kings 7 p.m.
May 1 vs. Kings 7 p.m.
May 3 at St. Louis 5 p.m.
May 5 at St. Louis 5 p.m.
May 7 at Minnesota 5 p.m.
May 8 at Minnesota 5 p.m.
