Greg Cronin changes up some lines as the Ducks, who host Minnesota on Friday, rank last in goals and goals per game.
head of Friday’s meeting with the Minnesota Wild at Honda Center, the Ducks aimed to boost their offense by changing their lineup.
Reports indicated that Leo Carlsson would be paired with Isac Lundeström and Robby Fabbri on the top line, while Mason McTavish skated on the fourth line.
The Ducks are currently the least effective offensive team in the NHL regarding goals and goals per game, but they rank 22nd out of 32 teams in expected goals per 60 minutes according to MoneyPuck.
Cutter Gauthier leads the team in shots, and Frank Vatrano is tied for second, yet they have only combined for one goal, an empty-netter by Vatrano. Despite similar struggles, Trevor Zegras has displayed glimpses of the talent that previously made him a rising star, even amid a challenging 2023-24 season marred by injuries and trade rumors.
So, are the Ducks’ scorers overdue for a breakthrough?
“I would think so. We’re all fishing for quarters now,” Ducks coach Greg Cronin remarked.
Despite the Ducks’ anticipated scoring being higher than their actual performance, their possession metrics have been disappointing overall. The primary factor for their moderate success, with a points percentage of .417, is their goaltending. Although they have scored 10 goals less than expected at even strength, goaltender Lukáš Dostál has been exceptional, saving nearly a dozen goals above expectation, the highest of any goalie this season.
In their recent 5-1 defeat against the Vancouver Canucks and a prior 4-2 loss to Chicago, Dostál was hindered by external factors such as significant screens, perfectly placed passes, and last-minute deflections.
“He’s been our star player this year and he still played well,” forward Brock McGinn noted after the Chicago game. “We’ve got to do a better job of trying to score some more goals for him to give him a cushion.”
Even though the Ducks have struggled to generate offense at even strength, their power play has been performing better recently. Of the three goals scored during this homestand, two were scored with a man advantage, marking four power-play goals across four games by four different players (Carlsson, McTavish, Troy Terry, and Olen Zellweger).
In contrast, the Wild have been struggling on the power play, failing to convert on their last 14 opportunities. This includes a 0-for-4 performance on Tuesday, where converting could have changed a significant loss into a closer match, ultimately falling 5-1 to the Kings, who sealed their win with an empty-netter.
Leave a Reply