Anaheim Ducks: The 2018 Vegas Rookie Face-off in Review
The inaugural 2018 Rookie Face-off in Las Vegas has come to an exciting conclusion. Ducks Nation was given an incredible glimpse of what the future holds for the Anaheim Ducks. We now have a better idea of which prospects have the potential to make the team come October.
Randy Carlyle needs to watch his back, because, after the way the Anaheim Ducks performed at this week’s Rookie Faceoff, he may soon be out of a job. Okay, I know. This is highly speculative. However, there is no denying that Dallas Eakins did an outstanding job coaching the “Ducklings” to victory during the rookie showdown.
A team cannot be cohesive without someone behind the bench who has strong leadership skills, is quick-witted, and knows his players. Maybe, just maybe, Eakins is ready to redeem himself as an NHL coach by taking on the challenge of coaching the Anaheim Ducks?
Where is the proof? As I always say, the proof is in the pudding. The “Ducklings” ended the tournament with a 3-0 record. They led the tournament in goals, with 21 in three games. Not only were they the leaders in goals, but they outscored their opponents 21-9.
The power play units they deployed looked solid, which has been an area of significant struggle for the Anaheim Ducks. They looked great in the net too. The three goaltenders had a combined average save percentage (SV%) of .922%, saving 107 out of 116 goals.
With the way the tournament played out, it is evident that the Anaheim Ducks were the clear winners of the 2018 Rookie Faceoff. We already know they ended the contest 3-0, but how did the other teams fare?
The Golden Knights (18 goals) and the Sharks (12 goals) both finished with a 2-1 record. The Avalanche (14 goals) and the Coyotes (8 goals) each ended the tournament 1-2. Unfortunately, the Kings (7 goals) finished 0-3. Each team played their hearts out, some were just more successful than the others.
Anaheim Ducks vs Colorado Avalanche (Game 2)
The Anaheim Ducks started the Rookie Face-off with a bang, defeating Los Angeles 8-3. Going into Game 2, they were looking for similar results. However, after their loss to the Golden Knights in Game 1, the Avalanche were looking to redeem themselves. Nevertheless, the “baby Ducks” put on another stellar performance in Game 2 of the tournament.
Both teams remained scoreless at the end of the first period. Things finally started to heat up early in the second with a goal from Maxime Comtois, the assist going to Tyler Soy. Soy’s superior strength out on the ice helped him win the battle for a loose puck in the corner. Soy saw an opportunity with Comtois in the slot. When the puck connected with his stick, Comtois sunk the puck five-hole, giving the Ducks a 1-0 lead over the Av’s.
The Anaheim Ducks lead didn’t last long. The Avalanche scored two goals in the second period. Brandon Saigeon scored the Av’s first goal of the night on a power play, tieing the game 1-1. At 5:14 of the second, Matthew Boucher scored their second goal during a 2-on-1 attempt, giving the lead to the Avalanche.
Late in the second, in an amazing display of teamwork, Sherwood and Lundestrom assisted Kopacka in tieing up the game. Sherwood, however, was just warming up. After his assist on Kopacka’s goal, he out-witted Colorado’s goaltender, giving the Ducks a 3-2 lead.
The Ducks controlled most of the third period, scoring two more goals at the conclusion of the game. The Av’s were able to generate some great scoring chances, but Lukas Dostal held his own in the net. He saved 27 of the 29 shots he faced during the contest, posting a .931% save percentage.
Julius Nattinen scored the fourth goal of the evening, at 9:43 of the third, making it his first of the tournament. His beautiful one-timer came off of an odd-man rush with Justin Ducharme. Colorado pulled their goaltender out of the net in exchange for an extra attacker late in the third. Isac Lundestrom seized the opportunity. He scored a goal into the Av’s empty net with one minute left in regulation, giving the Ducks a 5-2 victory over Colorado.
Anaheim Ducks vs Arizona Coyotes
The Ducks were looking to go undefeated as they concluded the showcase against the Arizona Coyotes. Anaheim’s line combinations for Game 3 proved to be lethal. Maxime Comtois, Sam Steel, and Troy Terry were paired together on the first line, proving to be a triple threat. However, the player who stood out the most during Game 3 was the Ducks 2017 4th round draft pick, Kyle Olson.
Maxime Comtois put the Ducks on the board first, scored his third goal of the tournament on a power play opportunity. Comtois, Steel, and Terry’s chemistry on the power play was evident. They used their tenacity, speed, and quick puck movement to get the Ducks on the board early in the first. Proving that this team was built for speed, Dostie scored their second goal on a breakaway, beating the Coyote’s goalie five-hole.
Kyle Olson scored his first goal off an assist from Simon Benoit late in the first. The Ducks lead grew by four when Olson scored his second goal of the night, during the second period, when he sunk a loose puck. However, Jeremy McKenna responded with a goal just a few minutes later, putting the Coyotes on the board.
The Anaheim Ducks should take some notes from the “Ducklings”, as their power play was deadly. Nattinen scored their second PP goal of the night, and his second goal of the competition, giving the Ducks a 5-1 lead over the ‘Yotes. With seven minutes left in the second, Josh Mahura set the team up for another goal. With a nice pass from Mahura, Kyle Olson completed his hat trick, scoring the Ducks sixth goal of the evening.
The Coyotes found some momentum and scored three consecutive goals, putting them just two goals behind the Ducks. Sam Steel put the Ducks on the board in the third, scoring their seventh goal of the evening. When Arizona pulled their goaltender, Comtois upset the opponents, scoring an empty-netter, leading the Ducks to an 8-4 victory.
The Future Looks Promising
Although I am fully aware that a rookie faceoff will not guarantee future success in the NHL, the performance we saw last week is a good indication that our prospects have a lot of promise. With Ducks Camp officially underway, these rookie’s still have something to prove. We’ve seen how they perform against other prospects. Now, they have the opportunity to learn alongside their experienced teammates.
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In my opinion, the Anaheim Ducks could benefit greatly from a new wave of youth. Last season, they saw great success with players like Ondrej Kase and Brandon Montour. Why not take the same risk? Our veterans could benefit from having younger players on the team. The rookies would be given the opportunity to take advantage of the wisdom offered by the veterans.
Both Sam Steel and Troy Terry have proven that they excell at every level they play at. In my opinion, both of them have what it takes to make an impact at an NHL level. Plus, they have both proven they are lethal entities on the power play. This could be a solution to solving the Anaheim Ducks “power outage” problem.
Maxime Comtois and Isac Lundestrom were two other prospects whose performances stood out to me. Comtois led the rookies in goals and points during the tournament. He also played well alongside Steel and Terry. Lundestrom also showed great promise, especially at such a young age. He was right behind Comtois in goals, ranking second on the team. However, I think one more year of development would serve both of them well.
I could state my opinion all day, but it all comes down to how the rookies perform during camp.
Next. Recent Trades Change Balance of Power in the Pacific. dark
Not everyone is going to be given a roster spot come October. However, I wholeheartedly believe it would be a tremendous mistake for the Ducks not to utilize the resources they already have.