The Anaheim Ducks will make Sheldon Souray a healthy scratch for Game 3 of their Western Conference Quarterfinal, instead choosing to play Luca Sbisa on the blue line. Souray said on Saturday that he is completely healthy.
Ducks scratch Souray, will play Sbisa in Game 3
Bruce Boudreau has opted to sit Sheldon Souray for Game 3.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Benching Souray is a surprising move by Bruce Boudreau, who leaned heavily on the veteran defenseman early in the season. Souray had seven goals and 10 assists in 44 games this season, helping anchor the Ducks’ power play, but his play dipped as the season went on.
Souray has really struggled in the first two games of the series, getting beaten by Justin Abdelkader for a goal in Game 1 before two terrible penalties in Game 2. His first penalty was a bad crosscheck on which Detroit scored, but his second proved even costlier because it allowed the Red Wings to score the game-winning overtime power play goal.
Sbisa has been sidelined with a lower body injury, but his return should give the Ducks more mobility on the blue line. He is a good skater, which Boudreau is betting will give the Ducks a big enough upgrade to mitigate the loss of Souray’s point shot.
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