Derek Lee and Patrick Present discuss the benching and response of Ducks rookie Cutter Gauthier The Anaheim Ducks concluded their four-game East Coast road trip with a 2-1 OT loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/] on Thursday. Ducks vs Penguins Pre-Game Stat Pack [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/game-day/ducks-vs-penguins-pre-game-stat-pack] They return to Orange County tallying three out of a possible eight points from the trip. Ducks head coach Greg Cronin decided to mostly stick with the same lineup as the one that brought them their most recent two points against the New York Islanders on Tuesday. Brett Leason returned to the lineup on the fourth line, subbing in for Ross Johnston next to Isac Lundestrom and Brock McGinn. Lukas Dostal got the start for the Ducks, his eighth in the Ducks' first ten games of the season. He turned in another casually spectacular 40-plus save performance, stopping 44 of 46 shots and saving 3.15 goals above expected [https://www.naturalstattrick.com/game.php?season=20242025&game=20163&view=limited]. Alex Nedeljkovic got the nod for the Pens. He stopped 22 of the 23 shots he faced in this one. Here are my notes on this game: Cam Fowler: Fowler has found new life in his game this season. He's been relatively sound defensively and is playing within his capability on the offensive side. While in defensive zone coverage, he does tend to leave his assignment in front a hair early to help or support a teammate. It's cost the Ducks opportunities in the past and led to a grade-A chance early in this game. Defensive Zone Coverage: Speaking of D-zone coverage, again, the Ducks were sound in their structure and, despite the high shot volume, didn't allow many dangerous chances off the cycle. Man-to-man coverage is designed to force turnovers or broken plays by eliminating every option the puck carrier has. However, a noticeable flaw early in the season has been when those turnovers aren't occurring quickly, the five players on the ice are either low on energy from previous time spent in other zones on a given shift or spend too much energy in coverage to build a threatening counter-attack the other way. Penalty Kill: The diamond structure was significantly more aggressive when the puck was on the wall or when possession wasn't 100% established by Pittsburgh. If discipline continues, it could lead to less time in the defensive zone for penalty killers while continuing to limit seams. Cutter Gauthier: This may have been Gauthier's best game in the NHL so far. He was creating space with his powerful stride, winning battles in tight areas, and dictating play with the puck on his stick. The game seems to be slowing down for the rookie, and he's pouncing on opportunities that develop in front of him. The Ducks will next head home to Orange County for a six-game home stand beginning on Sunday, when they'll host the visiting Chicago Blackhawks. The Anaheim Ducks' Faceoff Concerns [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/the-anaheim-ducks-faceoff-concerns] The Secret is Out: Lukas Dostal is Casually Incredible [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/the-secret-is-out-lukas-dostal-is-casually-incredible]
