Detailed notes on Thursday's game between the Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks hosted the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night at Honda Center. This was their third and final meeting in the 2023-24 season, and with a 4-0 win in this game, the Ducks finished 1-2 against the Blackhawks.
Game #70: Ducks vs. Blackhawks Gameday Preview
The Ducks snapped their seven-game losing streak in this game. Throughout the streak, they were outscored 35-7 and were shutout on three occasions.
Lukas Dostal got the nod in this game between the pipes for the Ducks. He stopped all 29 shots he faced and earned his first career shutout.
"A shutout is something special," Dostal said of his performance after the game. "But I'm just glad we could take a win."
Frank Vatrano tallied his 30th goal on the season in this game. It marks the first time he's eclipsed that mark in his career. He's the 11th Duck in franchise history to hit that milestone.
Ben Meyers notched his first career NHL assist on the Ducks' second of the game as he found Brett Leason on the weak-side with an outlet pass.
Leo Carlsson was forced to exit this game after a knee-on-knee collision with Alex Vlasic late in the second period. He was seen exiting Honda Center without crutches, but his condition will be monitored closely in the coming days.
Here are my notes on this game:
Cycle: Off-puck players were far more active cycling in the offensive zone. A net-front forward often slid to the bottom of the strong-side circle as a passing option, drawing defenders away from the front of the net. Defensemen were active and decisive when pinching. Forwards were diligent tracking back through the middle of the zone which allowed them to keep more pucks in.
Brett Leason: Leason's feet were moving all game which made him extremely disruptive on the defensive end. His high motor made him active on puck pressures and he recovered well. His decision-making on rushes was calculated and firm. He found ways to get defenders to lean and open shooting lanes for himself.
Forecheck: There was a concerted effort to send three heavy forecheckers on the Chicago defensemen and F3 when pucks were dumped deep. Soderblom, Chicago's netminder, rarely played pucks behind the net, so the forecheck was more potent. Anaheim defenders must read where their backcheckers are in proximity to opposing attackers on breakouts to weigh whether or not to pinch.
Lukas Dostal: Dostal eliminated the entire bottom portion of the net when Chicago got pucks in tight. He remained as calm as he was strong and defenders forced several jam attempts.
Left-shot Defensive Pairs: Two of the Ducks' three defensive pairs featured two left-shot defensemen. They were fluid and supportive as they switched and reversed efficiently. They did well to limit stopping at pucks and elected to keep their feet moving on retrievals so opposing forechecks couldn't get established, which limited cycles.
Pavel Mintyukov: Mintyukov reads his backchecks extremely well through the neutral zone. It allows him to pinch and seal before the defensive blueline when he has support. Low in the defensive zone, he battles deftly and efficiently. His style is an unforeseen compliment to Jackson LaCombe's, who thrives defending with his stick to break up passes and one-on-one moves.
The Ducks will wrap up their three-game homestand on Sunday at 5:30 PM PST when they will host the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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