How Will Anaheim Ducks’ Blue Line Fare Without Ben Lovejoy?
By Kayla Demint
@kaylademint
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The Anaheim Ducks‘ Ben Lovejoy is out six to eight weeks after breaking a bone in his hand while fighting Joe Pavelski on Sunday. Though Lovejoy has only one assist in the first nine games of the season, the injury begs the question as to how the Anaheim blue line will be without him.
For starters, Lovejoy is the perfect counterbalance to his defensive partner, Cam Fowler, a dynamic player who tends to lead the rush and play a more offensive game while Lovejoy is more of a stay at home defenseman. He also adds a physical presence to the team, having 20 hits on the season so far.
In nine games this season (with Lovejoy), the Ducks have only lost two games and have outscored their opponents by a 25-9 margin. This is partially due to their explosive offensive power, but also a tribute to their lockdown defense and great goaltending. It will be interesting to see who fills Lovejoy’s role and how Fowler reacts to having a new defensive partner given the pair’s chemistry.
So far, the Ducks are managing, beating the Chicago Blackhawks Tuesday 1-0 in a great defensive effort and some phenomenal play by goaltender John Gibson.
The Ducks have called up defenseman Josh Manson from the Norfolk Admirals, who has two goals, one assist, a minus-4 rating and 36 penalty minutes in 26 games in the AHL. He has yet to play in the NHL, but could very well see some ice time soon with Lovejoy out of the lineup.
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