Ducks Can’t Run(Or Skate) With The Devils

Photo: AP

By Michael Walters

The Anaheim Ducks continued their road trip in New Jersey. Ross Johnston drew in for Brett Leason and Tristan Luneau played for Jackson LaCombe. James Reimer was in net against Jacob Markstrom.

Recap

The Ducks opened up the scoring with a goal by Brock McGinn less than five minutes into this contest. He scored with a wrist shot through traffic. Anaheim also had a power play late in the period, but did not convert. The Ducks held a 1-0 lead after one period.

In the second period it was all New Jersey. They scored four times to take a commanding 4-1 lead. Jack Hughes tied up the game just over a minute into the second period. Stefan Noesen scored the next two goals to give the Devils a 3-1 lead. Paul Cotter added one more goal in the final minutes of the period to make it a 4-1 lead after two periods.

Nico Hischier extended the lead to 5-1 early in the third period. Ryan Strome scored just over halfway through the period to make it 5-2. Cam Fowler found Strome right in front of the net and he was able to reach around Markstrom and slam the puck into the net. The Devils got one more goal late in the third period to make it a 6-2 final.

Analysis

The Ducks played a decent road game at the start and had a one goal lead after the first period, but then the Devils took over in the second period. The Devils rattled off four goals in the middle frame and they never looked back after that. The Ducks did push back in the third period, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the three goal deficit at the start of the third period.

During even strength play the Devils put up 57 shot attempts to 34 for the Ducks. Anaheim posted just a 37.36 CF% and a 35.21 FF% during even strength play. The Ducks have had trouble being consistent offensively playing 5-on-5. There have been moments where they show flashes of being dangerous and then at other times they can’t seem to generate many scoring chances. Outside of Troy Terry, most of the forwards haven’t be able to produce regularly.

Head Coach Greg Cronin changed up the forward lines, which looked good on paper, but ultimately they didn’t work out in this contest. Maybe he should go back to the lines he deployed in the two previous games against the Rangers and Sharks. The Ducks beat the Sharks and barely lost to the Rangers with the previous lines.

Team Notes:

Terry extended his point streak to seven games(4 Goals, 3 Assists).

What’s Next?

Tuesday the Ducks face the Islanders at 4 PM.

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October 28th, 2024