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With Beleskey and Vatanen hurt, slumping Ducks recall Etem and Manson

Anaheim Ducks v Los Angeles Kings

Anaheim Ducks v Los Angeles Kings

NHLI via Getty Images

The Anaheim Ducks filled a pair of roster holes on Tuesday, recalling forward Emerson Etem and defenseman Josh Manson from AHL Norfolk to replace the injured Matt Beleskey (upper-body) and Sami Vatanen (lower-body).

Etem, 22, has been in and out of the Ducks lineup this season, shuttling between Anaheim and Norfolk. He’s appeared in 27 games at the NHL level, scoring two goals and six points.

Manson, 23, had an 18-game cameo earlier this season and fared reasonably well, emerging as a good defensive defenseman that brings a physical edge.

But both have rather large shoes to fill.

Beleskey was in the midst of a breakout campaign upon getting hurt and was second on the Ducks in goals, with 21. Vatanen, meanwhile, was the only defenseman on the roster to have appeared in all 57 games this year and led all Ducks blueliners in points (34) while sitting third among the group in TOI per game (21:40).

It’s also worth noting the Ducks are still without No. 1 netminder Frederik Andersen, who has been a workhorse this year and still sits ninth among all NHL goalies in games played, with 44.

Will be interesting to see how Anaheim fares over the next few games with Beleskey, Vatanen and Andersen all shelved. Losers in four of their last five, the Ducks host Tampa Bay tomorrow, then head out for a two-game Western Canada road swing through Calgary and Edmonton.