The Anaheim Ducks’ early-season misery persisted on Sunday, December 10, as they were defeated by the Winnipeg Jets in the last moments of regulation.
They had another close game that they could have won, but a few uncomplicated errors cost them the victory. These kinds of setbacks are extending a painful run of results that right now gives little cause for hope.
The Ducks finished the week with defeats against the Jets and the Chicago Blackhawks (Dec. 7) after suffering 11 losses in their previous 12 games. As they prepare for a demanding week against some Eastern Conference opponents, let’s examine some positive and negative lessons learned from the loss.
Positive: Ducks Got Offense From Unlikely Sources
Troy Terry, who hasn’t scored since his hat trick against the Arizona Coyotes on November 1, should probably start worrying. After 27 games, he still has five goals. However, he did make a contribution last night when he helped set up Alex Killorn’s power play goal. It was his sixth point in 17 games since he had four of his 15 points this season (three goals, one assist) against the Coyotes.
Max Jones played again against the Jets, escaping a serious injury. He got the second assist, which set up Killorn’s scoring run. He has been getting some time on special teams lately thanks to his play, and last night it paid off. He moved the puck well and with scrappiness, and it was good to see him rewarded.
Two underwhelming players, Jakob Silfverberg and Adam Henrique, linked up for the second goal. Neither player has had a particularly good start to the season by any means. Despite all of the injuries, their inconsistent play has solidified their position as one of the bottom six forwards. Nevertheless, Silfverberg found Henrique in stride, who finished off Connor Hellebuyck with a flawless shot.
It’s unlikely, in my opinion, because these players haven’t reliably led or supported the offense this year. This primarily pertains to Terry and Henrique, who have emerged as two of the Ducks’ most dependable forwards in recent times. When will we next see them on the scoreboard? Will it be some time? I hope not.
Negative: Lack of Defensive Fundamentals Doomed the Ducks
When leading into the third period this season, the Ducks had not lost. In this one, they increased their lead to 2-0 two minutes into the third. Though it wasn’t enough, it should have been.
Why? because the Ducks committed defensive blunders on several plays that led to goals. Nino Niederreiter skated past three Ducks unopposed to set himself up for a centering pass, which allowed the Jets to take the lead. It was never appropriate for him to have such easy access to superior positioning. It was already too late when Urho Vaakanainen went to stick-check him.
The second objective was challenging. Morgan Barron was the first to reach the loose puck following a blocked shot, outpacing Ducks defenders in their search. This play was fine in and of itself, but Barron scored because he crashed the net in pursuit of the puck without being checked. This occasionally takes place. You lose sight of players as you search for the puck. And negative things usually happen when the puck is in front of the net for an extended period of time. The worst-case scenario was that this tying marker appeared right after the first goal.
The Jets’ game-winning play was the most disappointing of all. About two minutes left, Gabriel Vilardi scored a one-handed deflection. Since Vaakanainen was tying up the body and not his stick, he was only able to reach out and make contact on the long-range shot. It’s critical to locate and control sticks, particularly when taking shots from the sideboards or points. If this isn’t done, seemingly harmless shots can turn into risky scoring opportunities. Regretfully, that is what we witnessed with the Jets’ game-winning play.
Positive: Special Teams Performed Well
Despite killing a massive five-minute power play in the second period, John Gibson and the shorthanded units in front of him were unable to capitalize on the momentum and score any goals. The Ducks will play too many minutes with a shortage of players as long as discipline is a problem.
Ducks Have a Difficult Road Trip Towards the East
There are a lot of obstacles to overcome this coming week. In six nights, they will play four games. Three of those matches are against teams that are in the running for the playoffs. Their road trip’s main event is a meeting with the New York Rangers, who are currently leading the Eastern Conference (Dec. 15).