- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 366,933
- Reaction score
- 43
You must be registered for see images attach
The Anaheim Ducks returned home on Friday night to host the Nashville Predators after a home and road back-to-back set against the Washington Capitals and Utah Hockey Club where they came up empty in both matchups.
Game #66: Ducks vs. Predators Gameday Preview
The Ducks were 3-6-1 in their previous ten games prior to Friday and looking to return to the win column and within one game of .500 on the season.
The Preds came into this game looking to extend their four-game winning streak and further distance themselves from the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks at the bottom of the standings.
Sam Colangelo and Ross Johnston were each sidelined in this game with upper-body injuries, as was John Gibson with a lower-body injury. Nikita Nesterenko was recalled earlier in the day on Friday and slotted into Colangelo’s typical spot on the wing of Mason McTavish and opposite Cutter Gauthier.
Lukas Dostal got the start for the Ducks in this game and saved 28 of 29 shots.
Juuse Saros took the crease for Nashville and stopped 13 of just 15 shots.
Here are my notes from this game:
Lukas Dostal-Dostal let in a soft power play goal that tied the game at 1-1, but was nothing short of spectacular for the other 59:59 of this game. He fought through traffic numerous times, made smart decisions with the puck while managing the game, and stayed relatively calm when plays were scrambling in front of him.
Alex Killorn-Killorn now has three goals in his last five games. Playing with Leo Carlsson and Trevor Zegras, and when his line has possession of the puck, he has proven more than effective at finding soft lanes and cleverly presents himself as a passing option in dangerous locales. It’s a mostly unnoticed quality, but one that has been rare this season among players on the Ducks’ roster.
Radko Gudas-Gudas was solid defensively in this game. He played within his skill limit, anticipating, gapping, and angling properly while ensuring plays were killed along the perimeter. He takes a bit too long to process the ice in front of him when the puck is on his stick. While fellow defensemen Olen Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov could stand to “complicate” their offensive games, Gudas may need to simplify.
Breakout/Forecheck-The Ducks struggled to make the 80-foot stretch passes up the strong side boards that their system requires to get pucks deep into the offensive zone and establish a forecheck. In situations like this game, swinging their wingers lower to shorten that pass and open up a lane to the far side defenseman can relieve some pressure and create space on the weak side to manufacture speed through the neutral zone.
The Ducks will now hit the road for a now critical three-game road trip, starting on Sunday, when they’ll take on the St. Louis Blues.
Ducks Ryan Strome Speaks on Pair of Viral Incidents
Missed Opportunities Prove Costly for Ducks Down the Stretch
Continue reading...
