A Series of Unfortunate Events
Things did not go as expected Friday night for the Ducks. Their opening playoff game was decided by Nashville's fluky goal. Fillip Forsberg's score may have been the deciding tally, but it isn't why Anaheim lost. I had a coach once who told me, if you lose by one score, there are plenty of other things your team could done differently all game long to change the outcome.
The Ducks did not play a consistently tight game all night. All three Nashville goals could have been avoided. No team is perfect, but the unfortunate deflection off Shea Theodore's skate was the worst moment in a string of events that became Anaheim's undoing.
Aside from the score, Anaheim lost three key statistical battles. They were outshot 33-29. It happens, and can be somewhat excused especially with the amount of flux in the Ducks lineup. Then Nashville out hit the Ducks 33-31. Really? That isn't Ducks hockey, they need to be the more physical team and even with some injuries, they have the personnel to do so. Finally, the most damning stat, Anaheim gave the puck away 20 times compared to Nashville's 11. In the the post-season, an almost two to one give away/take away ratio will kill you every time.
All three Preds goals could have been prevented. As mentioned earlier, the final goal was due to an unfortunate deflection off Theodore's skate. The other two Nashville goals were the result of Ducks miscues.
Turnover aside, to be frank, James Neal's opening goal shouldn't have happened. He shouldn't have had the chance because Shea Weber passed up an opportunity to score. Before Weber came in untouched on the net, his defender, Andrew Cogliano, fell twice letting Weber in free.
The Ducks came back. Goals by Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler put Anaheim ahead early in the second period. A Ducks defensive lapse again came back to haunt them at 7:55 of the second period. Nashville, to their credit, had a nice breakout from their own end. As Ryan Ellis brought the puck up the side, Rickard Rakell made an attempt to stick check it away, but couldn't. It was a move that a tired player toward the end of a shift makes. He floated to the high middle leaving Shea Theodore to handle Ellis. Theodore, who was trying to avoid a 2 on 1 before that was forced to pick up Ellis, which is the correct play. Ellis when he saw the defender was coming toward him, passed the puck to a streaking Colin Wilson who put it past Gibson.
It shouldn't have happened. The problem for Anaheim was that Cam Fowler, who had just come on the ice, got beat to the crease by Wilson. I watched this replay several times. When Wilson was at his own blue line, Fowler was already off the bench, had taken a few strides and was at the red line. As the puck came into Anaheim's zone, Fowler hesitated for a second, almost like he was going to pickup the trailer instead of the breaking player Wilson. The rest is history.
Time to tighten up guys
Game 2: Nashville @ Ducks
John Gibson returns to defend the Ducks goal tonight. He didn't play badly last night, but when the team in front is faltering, the goalie needs to carry the game. On defense, Clayton Stoner remains out with a LBI. Also, Josh Manson was injured Friday and won't play. He will be replaced by Kevin Bieksa, who returns to the team for his first game action since March 24. Up front, for now expect the same group form game one.
Forwards Perron-Getzlaf-Stewart McGinn-Rakell-Perry Cogliano-Kesler-Silfverberg Garbutt-Thompson-Wagner
Defense Fowler-Despres Lindholm-Bieksa Theodore-Vatanen
Goalies Gibson Andersen