Derek Lee and Patrick Present discuss Cutter Gauthier's progression The Ducks traveled to Winnipeg to face the Jets for their first leg of a brief back-to-back on the road. Takeaways from the Ducks' 3-2 Win over the Devils [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/game-day/takeaways-from-the-ducks-3-2-win-over-the-devils] The Ducks entered play hoping to win their third straight game against a Stanley Cup contender, coming off wins against the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday and the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday. The Jets entered play having won four of their last five games and looking to return to the win column after a 5-2 defeat against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday. Ducks head coach Greg Cronin went with the same lineup that earned them their last two wins. Olen Zellweger and recently recalled Nikita Nesterenko were the healthy scratches. In this game, John Gibson got the start in net for the Ducks, his first start since a Dec. 23 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. He earned his first win since Dec. 14 and stopped 27 of 30 shots. In the Jets' crease was Vezina favorite Connor Hellebuyck, who stopped 20 of 24 shots. Here are my notes from this game: Defensive Zone Coverage: The man-system remains too easy for good cycle teams to break down. All five players on the ice can remain true to their assignments throughout the duration of the cycle, but if they aren't generating turnovers early, fatigue will eventually set in and lead to goals. Radko Gudas and Jacob Trouba: Both Gudas and Trouba were shaky at the beginning of this game when they were retrieving pucks. Gudas must play within his skill set and keep plays as simple as possible when he has the puck on his stick. The instant he starts reversing or trying to spin off forechecks is when he loses important board battles, leading to turnovers deep in the defensive zone. Trouba showed some nice weight on his outlet passes but remains a little too nonchalant in coverage, players like Gabe Villardi or Kyle Connor only need an inch of soft space to present themselves as a passing option and get their shots off. Cutter Gauthier: Gauthier's attention to detail continues to impress. In this game, he often found himself as the low forward in coverage (a traditional center responsibility) and did well to remain on his assignment and displayed an aptness for boxing out his man in front of the crease. He's beginning to find ways to get his shots off when leading rushes and deeper into the offensive zone. He's become an entry and cycle disruptor and put forth a very polished effort. Rush Offense: The extended time spent in the defensive zone limited the number of rush attacks the Ducks generated. The Jets are a team more focused on puck management than the Oilers or Devils, so the Ducks' ability to counter wasn't as present. When they got their rush opportunities in this game, it was due to heavy pressure in the neutral zone, especially from their forwards. They are actively seeking out more lateral lanes through which to make passes and aren't simply looking to fire every puck after they gain entry into the offensive zone. It was a blend of encouraging signs and discouraging ones when it came to the offense generated in this game, but there certainly wasn't enough of it. The Ducks will be right back at it on Friday when they'll match up against a motivated Oilers team that will have had extended rest and is coming off a 4-1 victory over the Utah Hockey Club. Anaheim Ducks New Year's Resolutions [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/anaheim-ducks-new-years-resolutions] Three Things in 2025 to Look Forward to for the Ducks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/three-things-in-2025-to-look-forward-to-for-the-ducks]
