Anaheim Ducks Finally Win in Regulation, Top Arizona Coyotes 2-1
November 23, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Kesler (17), defenseman Hampus Lindholm (47) and defenseman Sami Vatanen (45) celebrate with goalie Frederik Andersen (31) the 2-1 victory against the Arizona Coyotes following the third period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The Anaheim Ducks returned to southern California and Honda Center for a three game homestand and a six game stretch in the state of California. Despite the team sitting atop the Pacific Division and Western Conference with 29 points, the team hadn’t won in regulation since November 2nd, a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Coming in were the Arizona Coyotes, a team the Ducks played for 55 strong minutes against last time on November 7th. However, the team gave up two goals in 58 seconds before ultimately falling to the Coyotes 3-2 in a shootout that night.
The Ducks were in danger of ceding another multi-goal lead, but they held up and finally got that elusive regulation win, defeating the Arizona Coyotes 2-1 in 60 minutes, becoming the first team in the Western Conference to break the 30 point mark.
Kyle Palmieri would start the scoring at 14:08 in the second period. Mike Smith fell behind his own net trying to play the puck, and Ryan Kesler won a puck battle against Zbynek Michalek, who also fell down. Kesler fed a puck into the slot area, which found Palmieri. Joe Vitale tried to act as the goaltender, but Palmieri fired his shot past him for his second goal of the season. With the primary assist, Kesler moved into a tie with Corey Perry for third on the team in points (16).
Patrick Maroon would make it 2-0 just three minutes later at the 17:20 of the second. Kesler won a faceoff against Antoine Vermette, and the puck came to Sami Vatanen at the right point. Vatanen fired a shot on net, and the rebound fell directly to Maroon, who pocketed his shot past Smith for his first goal of the season. Vatanen’s assist gave him 13 helpers on the season, tied with Ryan Getzlaf for the team lead. Kesler got a secondary helper with his faceoff win, putting him alone in third on the team in points (Getzlaf leads with 19, Vatanen is right behind with 18).
However, the Ducks would again let up and let the Coyotes back into the game. Keith Yandle would strike and make the Ducks pay at the 8:56 mark to cut the lead in half. Michalek sent the puck around, and Martin Erat got the puck. Erat sent a backhand into the slot, and nobody had the defenseman covered as he slid a shot underneath Frederik Andersen. The goal was Yandle’s third of the season, and he re-took the team lead in points (15) and tied Oliver Ekman-Larsson with the team lead in goals from blue-liners (three).
The Ducks weren’t particularly great in the final 20, but they were engaged on every level in the first two periods. The Ducks outshot the Coyotes 25-10 in the opening 40 minutes, and every Anaheim player saw more shot attempts for than against when on the ice, while only one Arizona player did not see a negative shot attempt differential in the first 40 minutes (Tobias Rieder). Despite the feverish push the Coyotes made in the final 20 (Arizona outshot Anaheim 17-5 in the third period), only four Ducks players finished with a negative shot-differential rating (Cam Fowler, Josh Manson, Getzlaf, and Maroon).
Here are my three stars for the game.
Nov 20, 2014; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Brad Richardson (15) comes from behind the net on Anaheim Ducks goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) and defenseman Josh Manson (42) during the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Third Star: Josh Manson, D (1 Hit, 20:06 TOI)
Manson didn’t stuff the stat sheet with points, but he was terrific for Anaheim. His confidence seems to grow with each shift and each game, and throughout the year, many have noted his constant growth. Manson has been a revelation on defense for the Ducks, who have missed Francois Beauchemin, Mark Fistric, and Ben Lovejoy for extended stretches this season. He’s become one of the Ducks’ key penalty killers, and he was rewarded for his strong play by getting time with Fowler on the top-pairing.
Manson’s strong play was a major reason why the Ducks were willing to deal Bryan Allen to the Montreal Candiens for Rene Bourque. Manson is proving quickly that he belongs at the NHL level, and he is becoming a fixture of this team. When this team is fully healthy on defense, it could be interesting to see how the team handles the situation.
November 23, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks left wing Patrick Maroon (19) celebrates with right wing Kyle Palmieri (21) his goal scored against the Arizona Coyotes during the second period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Second Star: Patrick Maroon, LW (1 G, 1 A, +2, 3 SOG, 15:03 TOI)
Maroon had a terrific game. His ice vision was on display, with good passes. Though he only recorded one hit, Maroon was active in the corners while playing on the revamped second line with Kesler and Palmieri. Maroon had a point in three straight games to start the season before suffering an MCL injury, and he struggled to get involved in the scoring when he returned, losing ice time. He was in danger of being a healthy scratch in place of Bourque (instead, Emerson Etem sat).
Maroon responded with his best game of the season, recording his first multi-point game and first goal of the season. The Ducks, who needed players to fill out their top-six entering this year, have gotten multiple strong games from players who seem to have made the leap into being ready to fill out those spots.
November 23, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks goalie Frederik Andersen (31) blocks a shot as defenseman Sami Vatanen (45) and defenseman Hampus Lindholm (47) help defend against the Arizona Coyotes during the third period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
First Star: Hampus Lindholm, D (+1, 1 SOG, 2 Hits, 18:48 TOI)
Just as Manson has continued to improve, Hampus Lindholm has grown game by game into the Ducks’ best defenseman and blue-line anchor. He was once again a tremendous calming force on the back-end, making quick decisions with the puck. He committed a penalty on Shane Doan on a breakaway late in the third, yet almost converted a breakaway of his own as he stepped out of the box.
The Ducks have needed a true number one defenseman, and the 20-year old has responded. In his 100th career NHL game, Lindholm has become one of the best players on this team, and he was key in killing off a Beauchemin minor with 40 seconds left while the Ducks faced a 6-on-4. The defense was outstanding in the game, and they were led by Lindholm, as they have been most nights all year.
November 23, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf (15) moves the puck against the Arizona Coyotes during the third period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The Ducks will return to action Tuesday in a rematch with the Calgary Flames. The Ducks were up 2-0 after 40 minutes against the Flames on Tuesday before blowing the two goal lead in the third period and ultimately falling in the shootout 4-3. The Flames are currently third in the Pacific Division and fifth in the Western Conference, just as they were last Tuesday before the Ducks faced them.
Calgary is coming off a five-game homestand where they went 4-1-0, including a dramatic 5-4 comeback win over the New Jersey Devils in a shootout on Saturday, where they trailed by two with three minutes left. The Flames will not play a game between Saturday and Tuesday, leaving them fairly well rested. It should be the first game back in Anaheim for Flames netminder Jonas Hiller, who left the Ducks this offseason after winning 174 contests for the Ducks (including the postseason) over seven seasons.
Point Streaks, General Notes:
Vatanen has points in three straight games (1 G, 4 A) and eight of nine (2 G, 9 A). He is now third in the NHL in points among defensemen (18, behind Mark Giordano of the Flames and Brent Burns of the Sharks).
The Ducks were beat soundly in the faceoff circle, winning only 24 of 59 draws (40.7%). Only Getzlaf finished with a faceoff win % over 50% (7/13). The rest of the centers went 16/45 (35.6%) (Maroon won his only faceoff). Rickard Rakell was particularly abused, winning only two of his 11 faceoffs. Vermette led the way for Arizona, winning 18 of his 29 faceoffs. Arizona did this without Martin Hanzal, one of the league’s top faceoff men.
Maroon netted the eventual game-winning goal, giving the Ducks ten different players who have scored their game-winning goals (the Ducks have ten regulation and overtime wins: their three shootout winners do not count). Their game-winners have been scored by Getzlaf, William Karlsson, Perry, Matt Beleskey, Kesler, Vatanen, Devante Smith-Pelly, Nate Thompson, Fowler, and Maroon, in order (Detroit, Buffalo, Minnesota, St. Louis, Buffalo, Columbus, Chicago, Dallas, Colorado, and Arizona in order).
No Ducks forward hit 18 minutes of ice time on the night. Getzlaf led the way with 17:54, and Kesler and Thompson were next (16:49 and 16:46, respectively). Bourque played the least, at 9:54.