Now that the season has started, I should probably clarify something. You will generally not see a game recap in this space. Although I reserve the right to do a game summary, most of you have either seen the game or know what happened by the time I blog about it. I'd like to use this forum for insight, analysis and opinion.
A Road Win
The Ducks evened their record on the young season with a win in Detroit last night, 3-2. It was a close game and could have gone either way. As a matter of fact, the Red Wings have to be kicking themselves today because they should have at least gotten a point out of the contest. If the Ducks are honest with themselves, they know that are very fortunate to have left Detroit victorious.
As was the case in Pittsburgh, the Ducks suffered some bad defensive lapses. This time around there was no Sidney Crosby or even a Pavel Datsyuk to exploit them. Defensive zone giveaways like the several Anaheim had last night will kill a team. The big difference yesterday was that Frederik Andersen played well enough in goal to win the game. He stopped two breakaways in the second period and was downright unbeatable in close all night.
That brings me to the other big issue I have with the defense. The opposition is camped out in front of the Ducks net way too much. Leave good players alone with the goalie often enough and good players will score. The defense needs to step up and protect the house.
The other side of the equation, the offense, looks good and there are several reasons why.
When he was acquired from Vancouver, one of the big questions was whether or not Ryan Kesler would fit in. Well that is not a problem. Not only does Kesler fit in well with his new teammates, he has also earned the trust of coach Bruce Boudreau. He isn't hesitant to play Kesler in any situation.
The Ducks power play is a weapon. They move the puck around the offensive zone very well and put pressure on the opposition. Kesler has added another dimension and has opened up more opportunities for everyone.
Even though he scored a pair of goals, Ryan Getzlaf really got away with one on the game winner. Bryan Hayward had it right, the play he made on Nicklas Kronwall to gain the puck is called a penalty.
Patrick Maroon has earned himself a long look on the first line. His hustle and forechecking created several scoring opportunities for both himself and his linemates. Maroon has so far been a great compliment to Getzlaf and Corey Perry.
I encourage all Duck fans to participate in the forums. Your opinions deserve a place to be expressed. Additionally, fans of other teams are invited to join in as well. If you agree or not, there is nothing wrong about healthy debate.
-Ed