Los Angeles Times

Montour answers call by Ducks to step up his game

Defenseman responds with others injured and earns a major spot in the rotation.

- By Mike Coppinger sports@ latimes. com

When Hampus Lindholm and Sami Vatanen were on the mend from offseason surgeries to repair torn labrums, the Ducks knew some younger defensemen would be forced into key minutes.

Only general manager Bob Murray and coach Randy Carlyle couldn’t have imagined how quickly — and expertly — one of those men would capitalize on his opportunit­y.

Brandon Montour has been a revelation for the Ducks through 12 games, and even though Lindholm and Vatanen returned last week, the 23- year- old is still logging major ice time.

That’s partly because Cam Fowler went down with a knee injury last month but also because Montour has been valuable to the team’s offense.

His four goals through Wednesday were tied for the NHL lead among blueliners, and it’s double Montour’s output from a season ago, when he made his NHL debut and played in 27 games.

“I’m getting confident, you’re playing with some good players and you want to get them the puck,” said Montour. “A strength of mine is my shot, I try to use it as much as I can. Hopefully I can keep the goals coming.”

Montour almost tied Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs when his last- minute point blast caromed off Jakob Silfverber­g ’s skate and into the net. The goal was disallowed by officials, who ruled the puck was kicked in, but the play illus- trated Montour’s value.

The Ducks drafted Montour with the 55th pick in 2014, and before the season Carlyle sent a message to some of the young players who were being counted upon to step up.

“Ready yourself, expectatio­ns are going to be higher,” said Carlyle, who singled out Montour as a player who’s shown some growth. “And we’re going to have to play a much tidier game and much stiffer game than what we maybe had to before because we’re challenged for offense and not having the historical­ly A- quality defense available to you.”

The 6- foot Ohsweken, Canada native also is quarterbac­king the power play in Fowler’s absence, a role Montour relishes as a chance to “bear down on opportunit­ies.”

Before Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf was sidelined Sunday when the puck struck him in the face, he and Montour were paired up on the point during power plays, a great learning experience for the second- year man.

“Getz says when you get the puck, shoot it, teams are going to respect it,” Montour recalled.

He certainly hasn’t been shy about shooting or even joining the rush. His four shots were a game high Tuesday, and his 32 shots are tied for 16th among defenseman.

TONIGHT

VS. NASHVILLE When: 7. On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 830. Update: This is the first meeting between the clubs since the Predators topped the Ducks in the Western Conference finals in six games to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. … John Gibson was injured in Game 5 of the series and didn’t play in the deciding game, but he’s been excellent this season under duress (. 919 save percentage). … The Predators’ momentum from last season hasn’t carried over. They’ve lost two straight and are one point behind the Ducks with 12.

 ?? Reed Saxon Associated Press ?? DUCKS DEFENSEMAN Brandon Montour, right, battles Flyers center Nolan Patrick for the puck.
Reed Saxon Associated Press DUCKS DEFENSEMAN Brandon Montour, right, battles Flyers center Nolan Patrick for the puck.

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