Anaheim Ducks: Three Keys to Grounding the Winnipeg Jets
The Anaheim Ducks are on, what is hopefully, the tail end of a ten game losing streak. Game one of their five-game road trip kicks off tonight against the Winnipeg Jets.
The Anaheim Ducks have officially surpassed their previous franchise record for longest losing streak. To be quite honest, I never thought I’d be writing about the Anaheim Ducks and their ten-game losing streak.
Nevertheless, here we are. As discouraging it is to watch them play hockey lately, I encourage each of you to have fun with it. If you don’t, you’re not doing yourself any favors. I, along with many of you, have come to the point where we’ve realized that it’s time to “embrace the suck!”
If they happen to pull it together in the last hour and make it to the playoff’s, great! At this point, however, I’m not holding my breath.
Going forward, I can only take this season one game at a time, hoping that before the season ends they get at least one more win. If not, well, maybe they can get a decent draft pick.
Must Read. Where Do the Anaheim Ducks Go From Here?. light
The Anaheim Ducks play their first game tonight on their five-game road trip against the Winnipeg Jets. Fresh off a 7-4 loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins, a game where they blew a 3 goal lead, there needs to be some major change to the Anaheim Ducks.
If Randy Carlyle is going to remain the coach until the end of the season, I think most of us have come to terms with that. However, change needs to be the keyword for the Anaheim Ducks if have any hopes of breaking their losing streak tonight.
Game 46: Anaheim Ducks vs Winnipeg Jets
Season Record: 19-18-8
Location: Bells MTS Place — Winnipeg, Manitoba
Time: 3:00 pm PST
TV: Prime Ticket
Radio: AM 830
Anaheim Ducks Injuries: Ryan Miller (Sprained MCL), Corey Perry (Knee), Patrick Eaves (Broken Rib/Back Spasms)
Winnipeg Jets Injuries: Dustin Byfuglien (LBI), Nikolaj Ehlers (Shoulder), Tyler Myers (LBI), Mathieu Perreault (Head)
Anaheim Ducks Player to Watch — Ryan Getzlaf
If the Anaheim Ducks want to embrace change, it starts and ends with Ryan Getzlaf. He is their leader, plain and simple.
He had two points in their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, which is a good start. However, if he wants to change the direction of this team, he needs to rely on much more than his point production to get it done.
Getzlaf’s attitude, both on and off the ice, is going to determine how the rest of his team performs tonight. If he plays like he’s out of gas, the rest of the team will follow suit. On the flip side, if Getzlaf puts in 110%, it is more likely that the rest of the Anaheim Ducks will step up their game.
“We came out a little flat, started taking penalties, started running around our zone and not making strong plays at a crucial time.” -Ryan Getzlaf, Post Game Interview (January 11, 2019)
As the captain of the Anaheim Ducks, he is supposed to lead his team with integrity. I’m not saying that he doesn’t. However, integrity means being honest, and sometimes honesty needs to be dished out when people want to hear it the least.
His teammates look up to him, and he can be honest and give constructive criticism without compromising his integrity.
However, he must first make sure he is holding himself to the same standard because if he had one finger pointed at one of his teammates, he’s got three fingers pointing back at him.
I have a feeling Getzlaf is getting tired of losing game after game and he seems determined to fix it. There is a chance we could see the “I’m Ryan Getzlaf and I don’t care” side of our captain tonight. If we do, Winnipeg better watches out.
Winnipeg Jets Player to Watch — Kyle Connor
The Anaheim Ducks need to keep a close eye on Kyle Connor tonight, especially the Ryan Kesler line. The 22-year-old forward really lost himself in December during his point drought, but it looks like he’s finding his way back. He really seems to be embracing the “New Year, new me” expression.
With six points in their last four games, he is definitely going to be a threat with the puck. However, what is going to make him even more dangerous is his willingness to go after players who work too hard at shutting down his teammates, especially Patrick Lane, Blake Wheeler, and Mark Scheifele.
Randy Carlyle has the tendency to pit the shutdown line against the opposing teams line he find the most threatening. So, Connor is going to be a thorn in Ryan Kesler, Andrew Cogliano, and Jakob Silfverberg‘s side tonight.
Knowing what we do about their recent production, that right there should be a major warning sign. Connor is going to get under their skin. Whether the Anaheim Ducks shutdown line can stand up under the pressure remains to be seen.
Three Keys to Tonight’s Game
While we realize that is a host of issues plaguing the Anaheim Ducks, these are the three keys we believe are most prominent in having a successful game against the Winnipeg Jets tonight.
Play Three Full Periods: The Anaheim Ducks have been guilty all season of not showing up when it matters the most. Hockey games are not won in 20 minutes or 40 minutes, they are won by playing a full 60 minutes.
Their most recent game against Pittsburgh is a perfect example. They held onto a 3 goal lead and then as soon as the second period began, they took their foot off the gas and just stopped playing. It was as if the lights were on, but no one was home.
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This resulted in the Penguins coming back and winning the game 7-4. If the Anaheim Ducks had played an entire 60 minutes, a loss like that could have been easily avoidable. Going forward, they need to make sure they give their best effort during all three periods.
Generate… Don’t Play Carlyle’s System: Enough with the dump and chase. In fact, stop playing the Randy Carlyle “system”… period!
It’s time for the Anaheim Ducks to take control of their own fate. Yes, Carlyle is their coach and there is a level of respect. However, the Ducks need to focus on generating more chances and more goals.
Clear the Front of the Net: Anaheim Ducks defenseman, this one is for you!
“Position is 9/10th of the law. If you are in the right position they come to you.” – Chris Pronger
Traffic jams happen, they are inevitable. However, they often lead the other team to score because the goaltender cannot properly track the puck.
The Anaheim Ducks defense needs to do a better job at clearing the congestion in front of John Gibson. In fact, they need to do a better job of protecting him in general. The only way he can do his job properly is if the rest of his team is doing their job properly as well.
To be quite honest, I know I’m beating a dead horse here, but there is a chance that changing up the defensive pairings could help a lot. A major key in hockey is communication and good communication only comes from having proper chemistry.
Being in the right position to clear the front of the net is going to help John Gibson out tremendously. The only way the defensive pairs are going to be in the right position is if they’re able to communicate clearly and read each other, which has been a big issue lately. Especially between Cam Fowler and Josh Manson.
The Ducks need to find a happy medium and changing things up is the only way they’re going to find it.
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