After losing its first game of the playoffs, the Anaheim Ducks are making a lineup switch.
Tomas Fleischmann, yet to appear in the Calgary series, will draw in for tonight’s Game 4 at the expense of forward Emerson Etem, who appears to be a healthy scratch.Fleischmann on returning to the lineup: “I need to help win battles along the boards and contribute offensively.”
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) May 8, 2015
Fleischmann last played for Anaheim in the first round against Winnipeg and fared decently, registering one point in two games. Etem, who scored a highlight-reel tally against the Jets in Game 4, scored again in Game 1 against the Flames but has been a bit of a non-factor since.
Clearly, the Ducks feel some apprehension about losing further momentum after Calgary’s dramatic 4-3 comeback win on Tuesday night. Aside from the lineup change, captain Ryan Getzlaf all but coined tonight’s tilt as a must-win:
Getzlaf on tonight: “This is a game we have to win. We don’t want to give them any more life.” #ANAvsCGY
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) May 8, 2015
Finally, worth noting that John Gibson will dress as Frederik Andersen’s backup tonight. Gibson has been unavailable for most of the postseason due to a hand injury, then illness.