Ducks’ Henrique is put on waivers
Disappointing forward mirrors low-scoring club, which loses its third straight game.
The Ducks placed forward Adam Henrique on waivers Saturday before a 5-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild at Honda Center.
Henrique is in the second year of a five-year, $29-million contract and led the team in goals (26) and points (43) last season, but he has three goals and one assist through 16 games this year.
Coach Dallas Eakins did not rule out a return to the lineup if Henrique, who was scratched on Jan. 31 and saw his playing time reduced significantly on Thursday, clears waivers.
“Let’s be very clear on one thing, it’s not just Adam. We’ve had a number of players take great strides and are taking over the game, and we have a number of players that are, for whatever reason, we’ll call it stuck in mud,” Eakins said before the game Saturday.
With Henrique sitting out, the Ducks — last in the NHL in scoring — again looked stuck in the mud in getting swept by the Wild.
Kevin Fiala had two goals and an assist and Kaapo Kahkonen made 26 saves as Minnesota followed up Thursday’s 3-1 win with a rout. Joel Eriksson Ek, Victor Rask and Mats Zuccarello
also scored for the Wild.
David Backes redirected a shot by newly recalled defenseman Josh Mahura to get the Ducks to 3-1 in the second period before they took their third straight loss. John Gibson made 24 saves.
Mahura made his season debut after defenseman Hampus Lindholm sustained a lower-body injury on Thursday.
Fiala continued his hot streak, having scored all of his team-leading six goals in his last seven games. He gave Minnesota a 2-0 lead at 16:17 of the first period, beating Ducks defenseman Ben Hutton to a loose puck in the offensive zone and putting a shot into Gibson’s side that trickled in.
Fiala also had a powerplay goal to make it 3-0 three minutes into the second.
Fiala had three goals in the two games against the Ducks, including both winners. He has eight goals in 12 career games versus Anaheim, his most against any NHL team.