GDT: #18 ⋅ ANA @ CHI ⋅ 5:30 PM PST

[2faded]

Is there a new system? When was that said/implemented? I hadn't heard about this.

 

[JAHV]

I’m hoping to get a more solid idea of what the “new system” is. It’s not defensive, they’re still playing man defense and collapsing. But they seem to be getting better at recovering flips and connecting on consecutive passes for zone exits. I can’t tell if it’s positional or what.

To me the improvement on the PP is just due to more prominent roles for Zegras and Zell. Those two guys should be the entry guys, period. No more dump-backs for Terry and Carlsson to play catch with.

I don't know for sure, but on defense it looks like they're putting more pressure when puck carriers have the puck along the boards, and they're playing a bit more aggressively when it comes to covering players away from the puck; i.e. they're getting in position to intercept passes more rather than strictly playing inside their check and cutting off paths to the goal. I think that's allowed them to create turnovers that aren't as contested. They're not forced to win a physical puck battle every time they want a turnover.

It could just be a coincidence, but it looks like Cronin has taken the training wheels off a bit.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

The last two games were good and promising but they are still far from where they need to be.

Scoring needs to continue. Ducks top producer is not even on pace for over 60 points and the 2nd place guys are like between a 40-50 point pace. Not good enough.

I hope they have enough energy to try and get another win and put up some goals at least. They seem to struggle against Chicago , so not sure what to think .

The game against Chicago this year was just perfect timing with Dostal breaking down. Dostal had played eight out of 10 games in October and Cronin didn't want to play Reimer again b/c he had the 6-goal debacle against NJ. The goalie stats per game breakdown table is in my post above in the spoiler tab if you wanna see proof. We dominated Chicago except at special teams and scoreboard. Ducks PP = 1/5 and Chi PP = 2/2.

With the recent goal scoring outbursts for Cutter, Zell, and LaCombe, maybe that'll provide enough scoring while our netminders cosplay Hodor for the season. It worked for JS Giguere for a season.

 

[SoCal Dreaming]

3+ goals, Ross fight and zegras stick twirl after a goal.

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

Is there a new system? When was that said/implemented? I hadn't heard about this.

Gudas mentioned it after one of the terrible games a little while back.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

I’m hoping to get a more solid idea of what the “new system” is. It’s not defensive, they’re still playing man defense and collapsing. But they seem to be getting better at recovering flips and connecting on consecutive passes for zone exits. I can’t tell if it’s positional or what.

To me the improvement on the PP is just due to more prominent roles for Zegras and Zell. Those two guys should be the entry guys, period. No more dump-backs for Terry and Carlsson to play catch with.

I can't definitely tell if there was a new system in place. I know we play man, but last night I actually saw LaCombe direct and pass off his man that was crossing the ice on defense. That was unexpected. And then Hazy informing us that our defensemen have been more aggressive against dzone entries near the blue line.

I just think Cronin told the troops to be more aggressive offensively and that's the difference. We're actually scoring some goals that probably were stopped earlier in the season along with our blue liners chipping in more and more such as LaCombe and Zell scoring a total of 4 goals in the past four games. Everything looks better now since we got Dostal some much needed rest with Gibby's return. The advanced metrics still say we suck and depend highly on our netminders. My eye test also supports that conclusion.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

3+ goals, Ross fight and zegras stick twirl after a goal.

I miss when Z would do sick twirls before scoring a goal, including Michigans. Those 60 point, 23-goal seasons were good days for him.

 

[Mr Rogers]

View attachment 932753

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OMG haha

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

Can we trade fowler and Vatrano yet

 

[Kalv]

I’m hoping to get a more solid idea of what the “new system” is. It’s not defensive, they’re still playing man defense and collapsing. But they seem to be getting better at recovering flips and connecting on consecutive passes for zone exits. I can’t tell if it’s positional or what.

To me the improvement on the PP is just due to more prominent roles for Zegras and Zell. Those two guys should be the entry guys, period. No more dump-backs for Terry and Carlsson to play catch with.

They also do something different offensively. They can finally maintain an offensive posetion. Seems that they've figured out they can pass to a player too instead of just cycle. But yeah I haven't figured it out too

 

[Bergey37]

They also do something different offensively. They can finally maintain an offensive posetion. Seems that they've figured out they can pass to a player too instead of just cycle. But yeah I haven't figured it out too

Yes. There is more motion and guys are getting inside more, and passes are getting to them. They're going to the net more, also. I've noticed this, as well as the defensive improvements that @JAHV noted above, for the last 4 games, and we've won 3 of those.

 

[slippingsloth]

Yeah, Dostal is honestly in the Vezina discussion at this point.

His performance is not sustainable long term obviously, but it seems like we got another good one.

If we are 500 or above i think we could push that narrative

 

[ZegrassyKnoll]

Re: the system, one other thing I've noticed is that more guys are flying the zone and that we're moving the puck up faster.

Before it would be one player in the neutral zone carrying the puck while the others catch up, now there's almost always at least two players and less passing back and forth in our own zone, which was allowing the other team to get set up. Also a change in the PP was putting Cutter in crease, which resulted in a goal last night. He used to play along the boards.

So the coaches are definitely making adjustments. But I think the players are adjusting as well, they are playing with more intensity.