Derek Lee and Patrick Present discuss the early success of Frank Vatrano, Ryan Strome, and Troy Terry The Anaheim Ducks traveled to Climate Pledge Arena on Wednesday night to face the Seattle Kraken [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/seattle-kraken/] in the second half of a home-and-home series. Ducks vs Kraken Pre-Game Scouting Report [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/game-day/ducks-vs-kraken-pre-game-scouting-report] The Kraken emerged victorious on Monday by a score of 3-2, causing the Ducks' record to dip below .500 for the first time since Nov. 18. Leo Carlsson was forced out of the teams' last meeting in the second period on a hit that sent him colliding into the Ducks' goalpost. Mason McTavish played in Carlsson's place on the top line between Trevor Zegras and Alex Killorn. This was his second game since returning from an upper-body injury that had caused him to miss the Ducks' previous six games. John Gibson got the start for the Ducks in this game, his fifth start of the season. He saved 42 of the 44 shots he faced and 2.67 goals above expected. [https://www.naturalstattrick.com/game.php?season=20242025&game=20360&view=limited] Joey Daccord opposed Gibson in the opposite crease and stopped 28 of 33 shots. Here are my notes from this game: Forecheck: Perhaps the biggest contributing factor to the Ducks' win in this game was their ability to kill plays off the forecheck, whether in the neutral zone or offensive zone. Defensemen were especially meticulous in timing their activations and pinches to negate outlets or keep pucks alive in the offensive zone. Transition Offense: The Ducks were notably more explosive following turnovers and puck retrievals, sending pucks and bodies north quickly in transition. Anaheim hasn't manufactured many odd-man rushes this season but were able to drive Seattle defenders deep into their zone more often in this outing. Trevor Zegras: Zegras is starting to manipulate defenders from the boards after receiving outlet passes like he typically does off the rush from the middle of the ice. When he was on the wing early in the year, Zegras was focused on consistently moving pucks up ice and as deep as possible into the offensive zone. He's now scanning the ice before the puck arrives to analyze where pressure is coming from and where his support is before looking off a one-touch pass or skating back toward his end to manufacture time and space. Brian Dumoulin: Dumoulin was as steady as ever defending in this game when Seattle had possession. Where he uncharacteristically struggled was on puck retrievals. He's typically able to evade the F1 and make a clean pass to his outlet to negate the second wave of a forecheck. Seattle was able to create battles when pucks were dumped into his corner or disrupted his first passes. Mason McTavish: McTavish's second game back displayed much of what makes him such a difficult player to play against. The game seemed to slow down for him, and he made quicker, more precise decisions with the puck on his stick. He was most effective, as is usual for him, deep in the offensive zone. He was relentless on the forecheck, creating battles and not giving up on plays once pucks were moved from his assignment. He forced quick decisions, which often led to impeded Kraken breakouts or regroups. The Ducks will next take on the Los Angeles Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings/] in what has become an annual Black Friday matinee game at Honda Center. Ducks Prospect Named to U20 World Championships Roster [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/ducks-prospect-named-to-u20-world-championships-roster] Ducks Prospects Projected to Make 2025 World Junior Championship Rosters [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/ducks-prospects-projected-to-make-2025-world-junior-championship-rosters]
