Ben Shelley: Ducks' offense falls flat in 4-1 loss to Kings

What a crap game… Cronin has to go….

The lines should be-

Cutter / Z / Frankie - 2 shooters with our best offensive player.

Fabbri / Leo / TT - good combo of speed, skill and finish -

AK / Mason / RS - get the forecheck and some goals -

Leason / Isac / whoever -

Our PP needs to run through Z - let him do his thing and everybody else read off of him.

Z / Frankie / Cutter / Minty / Luneau

Leo / Terry / AK / Baby Z / Fabbri

It’s mind boggling we are O’fer the season… on the PP -

Yeah. That kings game was better than the Avs game. The Ducks hung in there for two periods. The wheels fell off in the third when they got down by a goal and then they had to push the puck up the ice faster. They need to show discipline with the system. Because as they get better at executing the system the play will get faster. Tying to force speed while still learning will just cause turnovers. And this applies to any system the Ducks try to do. It's pretty much gotta be execution before speed. There are some offensive and defensive systems that are simpler and easier to learn. But it'll all take time. The important thing is to do it right.

McTavish looks like he's badly out of shape, always a step behind. Cutter looks like he fast but he doesn't know what's going on. Still in the building process though, I get it. Leo looks good, young and still learning, but good, he's so skilled.

McTavish looks like he's badly out of shape, always a step behind. Cutter looks like he fast but he doesn't know what's going on. Still in the building process though, I get it. Leo looks good, young and still learning, but good, he's so skilled.
- LeftCoaster

No excuse for Mason.. he's quickly turning into bust category... and I think it mainly has to do with Cronin and how he's using him. He and Z should not be on the same line... ever...

No excuse for Mason.. he's quickly turning into bust category... and I think it mainly has to do with Cronin and how he's using him. He and Z should not be on the same line... ever...
- dozerD10

Mctavish isn't a bust. He's put up 42 and 43 points in the last 2 years. He even missed 20 games last year. The Ducks see him primarily as a two way center. But I'd actually like to see him at wing. It would free him to do more shooting and then you could move Zegras back to center where he could do more play making. Zegras is actually faster too so playing the 200 foot game wouldn't hurt him as much. And Zegras defense is better this year.

Mctavish isn't a bust. He's put up 42 and 43 points in the last 2 years. He even missed 20 games last year. The Ducks see him primarily as a two way center. But I'd actually like to see him at wing. It would free him to do more shooting and then you could move Zegras back to center where he could do more play making. Zegras is actually faster too so playing the 209 foot game wouldn't hurt him as much.
- Eman87654

Well at least you and I agree on that… Z has to be back at Center.

Well at least you and I agree on that… Z has to be back at Center.
- dozerD10

Well just so everybody understands. You can think about Mason Mctavish in The Same way as you think of Ryan O'Reilly. A two way center that puts up 50 plus points every year. And every team loves defence at center. That's Why Mctavish is at center instead of Zegras. And the Ducks also have Leo Carlson. He looks really good at defense too. Which makes me happy when I think about it. But Ducks do need more offense right now. So i hope we see Zegras ar center again.

No excuse for Mason.. he's quickly turning into bust category... and I think it mainly has to do with Cronin and how he's using him. He and Z should not be on the same line... ever...
- dozerD10

All 32 teams in action today, lets see how they do against the lowly Sharks tonight. I expect Mason to get on the board with a goal.

And no, I don't think he's a "bust", but he's definitely having a tough start to the season. He needs to be better and work on his quickness.

Mctavish isn't a bust. He's put up 42 and 43 points in the last 2 years. He even missed 20 games last year. The Ducks see him primarily as a two way center. But I'd actually like to see him at wing. It would free him to do more shooting and then you could move Zegras back to center where he could do more play making. Zegras is actually faster too so playing the 200 foot game wouldn't hurt him as much. And Zegras defense is better this year.
- Eman87654

Just not a big fan of "Z", he's talented but I'm not a fan of his game or his attitude.

Just not a big fan of "Z", he's talented but I'm not a fan of his game or his attitude.
- LeftCoaster

Dude. There's nothing wrong with Zegras. He's a really good hockey player and watching him he cares more than you think. He just wears his emotions on his sleeves. But watching him this year he has improved his defense a little. And I think he's got a good chance to make it back to center. Because the Ducks are gonna have to score more goals.

Mctavish isn't a bust. He's put up 42 and 43 points in the last 2 years. He even missed 20 games last year. The Ducks see him primarily as a two way center. But I'd actually like to see him at wing. It would free him to do more shooting and then you could move Zegras back to center where he could do more play making. Zegras is actually faster too so playing the 200 foot game wouldn't hurt him as much. And Zegras defense is better this year.
- Eman87654

I’ve been saying this since March. Z is a gifted playmaker, and the Ducks seem intent on turning him into “the invisible man”. McT is not fast enough to play in the middle the way the game is played today. But he has a great one-timer and the bulk to be disruptive in the corners and in the crease. Let him do the job he’s built for.

Nice shot by Terry there, finally a power play goal.

Dostal was their best player last night, Sharks were peppering him at points throughout the game. All-in-all a good effort last night, Carlsson had an excellent game, that "how's she goin" toe-drag in front of the Sharks net was a beauty. He's such a cerebral player, so skilled. McT played better as well.

It was a good game aginst the Sharks last night. The Win wasn't that impressive since the Shsrks are a worse team. But getting two power play goals was big for the Ducks. It's been a bad situation for the first five games.

I’ve been saying this since March. Z is a gifted playmaker, and the Ducks seem intent on turning him into “the invisible man”. McT is not fast enough to play in the middle the way the game is played today. But he has a great one-timer and the bulk to be disruptive in the corners and in the crease. Let him do the job he’s built for.
- hardenx

Mason simply isn’t as good as puck handler Z Nor is he as defensively aware. He just doesn’t have the elite hockey IQ that Z does. Nothing necessarily wrong with that a few people do. And he certainly doesn’t have the offensive Chops that Z does.

Put him on the wing or let him center the third or fourth line.

But Cronin is a moron so this is what you get last night Z on the third line. 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

Mason simply isn’t as good as puck handler Z Nor is he as defensively aware. He just doesn’t have the elite hockey IQ that Z does. Nothing necessarily wrong with that a few people do. And he certainly doesn’t have the offensive Chops that Z does.

Put him on the wing or let him center the third or fourth line.

But Cronin is a moron so this is what you get last night Z on the third line. 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
- dozerD10

Yeah, well this is just a process that kinda has to happen. It use to be that prospects learned defense in the AHL. But since alot of players are skipping the AHL, then Defense needs to be taught at the NHL level. I don't think that the Ducks are tring to punish and of the young players. But this is the teaching method that works. And I do believe Zegras will be a center again. All he's gotta do is learn some Defense and they'll probably move him back. And Zegras is already getting better. So it's just a matter if time.