GDT: #10 ⋅ ANA @ PIT ⋅ 4:00 PM PDT

[SmokeyDuck]

It was hard to tell as my feed for the 3rd period was glitching to all hell, but I thought Zegras and Gauthier looked better this game. Might be growing some chemistry.

 

[Reveille1984]

Lol when you watch other games in the NHL you get an appreciation for how bad this team is.

I think a lot of it is the system, on paper we prob shouldn’t be as bad as we look.

A lot (probably most) of it can be attributed to a poorly constructed roster full of kids and bad possession players. But systems/coaching can also make a bottom third team look like the worst group in the NHL, which is what we look like a lot of the time.

The saddest thing is this is the healthiest roster we've had in a long time, and we almost looks worse for it.

 

[ohcomeonref]

It was hard to tell as my feed for the 3rd period was glitching to all hell, but I thought Zegras and Gauthier looked better this game. Might be growing some chemistry.

I hope so. We need a couple PPG forwards in the worst way.

 

[FiveHoleTickler]

Underlying numbers match the eye test. This record isn't sustainable.

Enjoy being in the "playoff hunt" while it lasts, but sooner or later Dostal will collapse just like Gibson did a few years ago and we'll be quickly out of the race before the All Star break 4 Nations Face Off thing.

 

[DavidBL]

I’m fine with gauthier on pp1 he’s getting chances, once he gets one in I think he’ll get hit


Lol when you watch other games in the NHL you get an appreciation for how bad this team is.

I think a lot of it is the system, on paper we prob shouldn’t be as bad as we look.

I don't hate Cutter there but I would like to try an leverage the potential. Cutter is playing with Z at ES might be able to capitalize on the chemistry on the PP2 as well as boosting Vatrano up.

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

I stopped watching my spectrum feed of KCOP because it was a disaster, and went to the Victory+ app on my iPad, which worked flawlessly, and had (as usual) a much clearer feed.

It seems random as to what works/doesn’t work for people.

I was watching the KCOP feed OTA and had the same issues. Switched to the app on my iPad and the feed worked smoothly without a glitch. That said, I've been watching KCOP OTA every game and this was the first time it was so problematic.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Brutal first and third period. Dostal is going to be completely drained by January at this rate

Team just looks tired. Which shouldn't be the case on a non back to back vs an aging Pens team.

 

[Hey234]

The 4-4-1 record is a total mirage. We could very easily be 2-6-1 which is essentially what we were last year record wise.

We’re really bad. A top 3 pick again would not be surprising in the slightest.

The team looks awful without major injuries, wait til someone inevitably gets hurt

I’ve seen enough of Cronin. I’m not sure how you justify bringing him back next season at this point

It's funny though because the Ducks could have won some of those games they lost. I am not denying that the Ducks are not playing well, but playing the what if game doesn't really change the fact they they are 4-4-2.

To put in in perspective, the Devils are 3rd overall: 13 games played, 7-4-2, 16 points. If the Ducks win their next 3 games, they will be at 13 games played, a record of 7-4-2, and 16 points.

The Ducks are not playing well, but they are completely fine in the standings. If play improves, they haven't screwed themselves. It's been 10 games. I think everyone deserves more than 10 games.

 

[Bender66]

Yeah, I feel like some people don't watch other teams play outside of the Ducks, which is fine. But there's a reason I posted the other day that it looks like we're playing a different sport than the rest of the NHL. Pretty much every underlying metric for the Ducks both offensively and defensively is terrible, outside of Dostal standing on his head.

The way this team plays is just downright awful to watch. This system of: collapse defensively with zero forecheck > give up unlimited free possession/shots/zone entries > finally retrieve the puck by accident > completely winded group dumps/changes > collapse defensively with zero forecheck, rinse and repeat, is miserable hockey.

This.
I watch the condensed highlights of like 75% of games every night (because fantasy hockey), and it is mind boggling that this team, that is made up of professional hockey players, who have played this sport their entire lives, somehow looks worse than my nephew's 12U team.

Forget structure or basic tactics etc. The current Ducks team can't even make the most fundamental basic hockey plays of like a 5 foot pass, or not skate like they are in sludge for 60mins

 

[AngelDuck]

It's funny though because the Ducks could have won some of those games they lost. I am not denying that the Ducks are not playing well, but playing the what if game doesn't really change the fact they they are 4-4-2.

To put in in perspective, the Devils are 3rd overall: 13 games played, 7-4-2, 16 points. If the Ducks win their next 3 games, they will be at 13 games played, a record of 7-4-2, and 16 points.

The Ducks are not playing well, but they are completely fine in the standings. If play improves, they haven't screwed themselves. It's been 10 games. I think everyone deserves more than 10 games.

You can put the results over the process but I wholeheartedly disagree with that train of thinking for a team that has proven nothing. We need to prove we can carry the play at some point and not just rely on a good goalie