Detailed notes from Friday's game between the Dallas Stars and Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks hosted the Dallas Stars Friday night at Honda Center. The Ducks entered play looking to start a winning streak after Wednesday’s 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators. The Stars were looking to extend their winning streak to four games and take sole possession of first place in the Central Division.

Game #63: Ducks vs. Stars Gameday Preview

John Gibson returned to the Ducks’ crease for the first time since he stopped 24 of 28 shots in a 6-4 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Feb. 29. Between the pipes for Dallas was Jake Oettinger, who was looking to rebound after stopping only 14 of 20 shots in the Stars 7-6 OT win vs the Sharks on Tuesday.

Ben Meyers, acquired from the Colorado Avalanche earlier on Friday, would make his Ducks debut in this game on the left wing of Isac Lundestrom and Jakob Silfverberg. Mason McTavish and Troy Terry returned to the lineup. McTavish has missed the last two games after leaving the team’s March 1 victory over the Devils in the second period with what we now know was an ankle injury. Terry only missed Wednesday’s win over the Senators with an upper-body injury.

Here are my notes from this game:

Regroups: Maybe by design, but McTavish and Terry are the only forwards who look to utilize their defensemen on neutral zone regroups. Rather than force pucks North, they send pucks back to their open defensemen so they can curl and build speed through the neutral zone. It also opens up options for defensemen to make plays with time.

Breakouts: From deep in the defensive zone, stretch passes to forwards in the neutral zone were available for defensemen. There was good puck support from forwards when making shorter passes, but the Dallas forecheck diagnosed those opportunities and caused disruption. Some poor breakout decisions proved costly and led to several opportunities for Dallas.

Defensive Zone Coverage: Weaves and incidental picks have plagued the Ducks' man coverage all season. They open up just enough ice for puck carriers to create dangerous chances.

Cam Fowler: Fowler is too good of a skater to not work the top of the blueline more with the puck. He tends to force shot attempts through too many layers and they often get blocked. Those blocks, with two forwards parked at the front of the net, can lead to rush chances the other way. A stride or two along the blueline or down the wall would open up several options for Fowler to make a higher percentage play.

Mason McTavish: McTavish didn’t miss a beat returning from injury in this game. He was especially effective pulling pucks off the wall to dangerous ice and created some chances low in front. He also facilitated well off the rush from the middle of the ice.

Gustav Lindstrom: Lindstrom is a reliable and sound defender who excels with his gaps and footwork against the rush. He’s surprisingly deceptive moving pucks up ice through the neutral zone and can look off pressure to open up options for his forwards.

The Ducks will be back in action Sunday evening at Honda Center to take on the New York Islanders at 5 PM PST. 

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