Derek Lee and Patrick Present discuss the potential impact of Trevor Zegras' return to the lineup The Anaheim Ducks took to the road for a two-game trip, starting Tuesday in Seattle to face the Kraken. Game #50: Ducks vs. Kraken Gameday Preview [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/game-day/ducks-gameday-preview-01-28-25] The Ducks entered this game having won their last two, against the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators, by a combined score of 10-3. After this game and scoring only seven goals on a six-game road trip, the Ducks have now scored 16 in their last three games. "I'm not sure," Mason McTavish said when asked where he thinks the sudden offense is coming from. "I feel like we're more connected than ever right now. All four lines are playing pretty well and we're getting some bounces right now." The Kraken came into this game with a one-point advantage over the Ducks in the Pacific Division standings and on the second game of a back-to-back, having lost to the Edmonton Oilers 4-2 on Monday. Ducks head coach Greg Cronin kept the same lineup that earned his team their previous two victories, with Olen Zellweger and Ross Johnston serving as the team's healthy scratches. Lukas Dostal got the start for the Ducks in this game, after appearing in relief to close out the last two periods of the Ducks' win against Nashville on Saturday. He stopped 26 of 30 shots in this game. Opposing Dostal in the Seattle crease was Philipp Grubauer, who had been pulled in each of his last two starts. He stopped just 17 of 22 shots in this game. Here are my notes: Cutter Gauthier: Gauthier scored in this game, his first point since Jan. 12 when he scored two goals against the Hurricanes. Despite the lack of production, he has impacted play in every zone with his effort and attention to detail. He has transformed himself into a disruptive forechecker and backchecker, taking proper angles to eliminate time and space for opposing puck carriers. He's always aware of when to cover for an activated defenseman as an F3 and does well to retain an inside position on his assignment, stay strong on 50/50 pucks, and get a piece of shot attempts with his stick or body. Rush Offense: Cronin has stated in recent weeks the team has identified itself as a rush-based offensive team despite his preference for more of a "ground game." Over the past three games, the Ducks have diagnosed and recognized broken plays in the defensive and neutral zones, jumping to open space up ice to spark rush opportunities while players recovering pucks look further up ice for options. These plays, built on trust from teammates below the puck to maintain defensive position, have led to an increase in rush chances generated on a nightly basis. Leo Carlsson: With Gauthier's goal in this game, Carlsson remains one of the young Ducks players who needs to get his offense going. He has just one point in his last 11 games and just 16 points in 44 games on the season. The return of Trevor Zegras to the lineup and his wing has improved the quality of chances he's seeing per shift, as Zegras can feed him off of outlets with speed through the neutral zone. Rather than attempting to break down one or several opposing defenders off the rush just to get a distance shot off, Carlsson is now looking for supporting teammates, like Zegras, who have placed themselves in spots to receive passes. The next layer will be for Carlsson to connect on those passes at a higher rate. His passes have typically been a step behind his target, but the looks are encouraging. Ryan Strome: Traditionally, Strome has proved an elite playmaker from the perimeter and at a standstill in the offensive zone (specifically, from below the goal line). In this game, he translated that play-building skill to the middle of the ice on Mason McTavish's goal and off the rush on Troy Terry's. "I think I'm a pass-first guy, probably to a fault," Strome said after the game. "I think when you look at the guys I tend to play with, they're shooters. So that's the way it shapes out and I'm more than happy to dish it." He's recognizing when to jump to open ice without hesitation and is capitalizing on the constant scanning of the ice away from the puck. The Ducks will wrap up their brief two-game road trip with a Thursday matchup against the Calgary Flames, who currently hold the second wild card spot and fourth place in the Pacific Division. Ducks’ Cronin Not Worried About Job Security [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/ducks-cronin-not-worried-about-job-security] Mason McTavish Named NHL Second Star of the Week [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/mason-mctavish-named-nhl-second-star-of-the-week]
