Takeaways from the Ducks 3-1 Victory over the Sharks
Detailed notes on Tuesday's game between the Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks
Takeaways from the Ducks 3-1 Victory over the SharksThe Anaheim Ducks hosted the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday evening at Honda Center, the second meeting of three between the two teams in the 2024-25 season.
Isac Lundestrom returned to the Ducks' lineup after suffering an upper-body injury in their home opener against Utah that forced him to miss the next two games. He was set to center a new line between Trevor Zegras and Alex Killorn.
"He's probably one of the most cerebral players on the ice," Ducks head coach Greg Cronin said of Lundestrom after the game. "When coaches have players, they know that when they put them on the ice, he's gonna try to do everything he can to be above pucks on the forecheck and stay with his centerman on a lost faceoff."
Mason McTavish started between Brock McGinn and Brett Leason on the Ducks' listed fourth line, while Robby Fabbri started on the right side of Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier.
Lukas Dostal got the start for the Ducks in this game after a shutout performance against the Sharks in the team's season opener. Dostal turned in another spectacular performance in this game, stopping 27 of 28 shots with the only goal allowed coming from a point shot that was tipped by teammate Jackson LaCombe.
For San Jose, Mackenzie Blackwood got the nod and stopped 37 of 39 shots he faced.
Alex Killorn potted the Ducks 40th shot of the night to extend the Ducks lead to 3-1, marking the first time the Ducks hit the 40-shot mark since Nov. 2023 in a 4-1 win over the Sharks.
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Here are my notes from this game:
Forecheck: The early high-danger chances the Sharks got on the rush were caused from outlets chipping pucks past pinching defensemen while the high F3 forechecker lost a race back up ice.
"The forwards were getting caught down too low or flat to the puck and (the Sharks) can scoot," Cronin said. Uncharacteristically, I think Leo (Carlsson) got beat twice as the F3 going up ice and actually, Zegras did a good job getting back."
Power Play: The early power plays in this game for the Ducks were reminiscent of the previous five games, where they would make poor decisions under pressure and turnovers were forced by aggressive opponents.
"I thought we were just attacking the net more," Troy Terry said after the game. "Jackson (LaCombe) was shooting pucks and the other unit was shooting. I think that's kind of the key to it and it's nice to feel the weight kind of lifted."
Following Terry breaking the 0-20 streak, the units were able to breathe, process information quicker, and make more optimal plays with the puck.
Brian Dumoulin: Dumoulin has been an underrated artist on the breakout early in the season. He has a keen ability to absorb an opposing forecheck and find an outlet with a clever slip pass.
His forecheck only adds to his textbook defensive game, where he kills rushes regularly while disrupting shots and passing attempts.
Olen Zellweger: Zellweger has worked enthusiastically to round out his defensive game and earn more opportunities in the lineup. In doing so, his transition and offensive ability has begun to flourish.
"You can see he's learning. If you remember last year, he would force plays, turn pucks over, get overly aggressive, and lose people behind him," Cronin said. "He's a consummate hockey player. He's always watching video and always working out."
He is not only reading the forecheck directly in front of him, but is now reading the second layer to make a more optimal decision and use his remarkable skating ability to inspire offense.
The Ducks will now head out on the road with a four-game East Coast swing where they'll play the Rangers, Devils, Islanders, and Penguins, starting Saturday in New York against the Rangers.