Ducks are trying to figure out ways to stop the losing
Mired in a dismal stretch that's seen them compile 13 regulation losses in 14 games, the Ducks will face the Devils in New Jersey tonight before concluding their fourgame trip against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday.
The stretch might be most aptly titled “Ways to Lose.” They most recently turned a mostly even game possession-wise into a 5-1 loss to the New York Rangers. Since Nov. 15, there are five NHL teams that accumulated 20 or more points in the standings, but during the same span, the Ducks have mustered just two points, both from a shootout victory over Colorado.
“I've done this a long time at different levels. I think I've seen pretty much, almost, everything, from World Juniors to World Championships to college to junior to minor pro to pro,” Ducks coach Greg Cronin said. “I have not seen so many winnable games not get won.”
That puzzling fate has been accompanied by a penalty disparity that borders on conspicuous. Where early in the season the Ducks' proclivity for taking minor penalties was at least offset to some degree by being a top team in terms of infractions drawn, they've been in the bottom third of the
Today: Ducks at Devils, 4p.m., BSSC
league in penalties drawn since their slump began Nov. 15. Their penalty differential is minus-38, with 31st-ranked San Jose at minus-28, but the Ducks have drawn 27 more penalties than San Jose. The sheer volume of minors as well as some questionable non-calls of late, such as the one during Frank Vatrano's late drive to the net in a loss to Winnipeg last week, have been a major hindrance.
A positive development has been the play of Troy Terry. He had three points in four games, including a goal, entering the matchup with the Rangers, in which he, Leo Carlsson and Alex Killorn were significant bright spots.
Terry was the Ducks' leading goal scorer in each of the past two seasons, pouring in 37 tallies two years ago and 23 last year to tie the injured Trevor Zegras. While Zegras, Mason McTavish and Jamie Drysdale have yet to play on the trip, they are with the team, though for now it'll be counting on more upward momentum from Terry.
“His game's taking off. That line — him, Leo and Killorn — was dominant against the Rangers,” Cronin said. “They should have had like three goals, just that line. So, I hope he's gotten his groove back.”
Their first opportunities to get back on the rails will be against New Jersey and Detroit, two teams whose rosters have turned over entirely since Cronin last coached in the Eastern Conference as an assistant with the New York Islanders.
The Devils are built around leading scorer Jack Hughes, who has been a force with 34 points in 22 games. The Devils were missing Nico Hischier, a top two-way pivot, earlier in the year, and are presently without their most-deployed defenseman, Dougie Hamilton, after he tore his pectoral muscle. New Jersey has scored the eighthmost goals per game in the league but also surrendered the fifth most.
“Obviously Hughes is a dynamic player, they've got a lot of offense, but I think they're struggling a little bit in net this year,” Cronin said. “They had high expectations coming out of training camp, but they've got a lot of talent, they play really fast and you've got to get above people or it's going to be a long night.”
Detroit has also transformed its roster under general manager Steve Yzerman's stewardship. Trade acquisition Alex DeBrincat leads the Red Wings in scoring narrowly over presently injured captain Dylan Larkin, who was knocked unconscious by Ottawa's Mathieu Joseph last week.
Colton Sissons, Philip Tomasino