Ben Shelley: Ducks split back-to-back to open season with win over Sharks, loss to VGK

The season so far is has been weird. The First game really stunk with the Sharks and Ducks struggling to execute any system.
Zone entries are still a problem. Some adjustments are gonna have to be made in that area. But it's still early. Not alot of data yet to make any concrete analysis.

The season so far is has been weird. The First game really stunk with the Sharks and Ducks struggling to execute any system.
Zone entries are still a problem. Some adjustments are gonna have to be made in that area. But it's still early. Not alot of data yet to make any concrete analysis.
- Eman87654

Yeah SJ was fugly … but a regulation W which I’ll take -

I was concerned about VKG on the B2B only to be pleasantly surprised-

Strong effort - after they got their legs moving - TT with a nice finish - 2 posts and Z stoned on a breakaway … so we had good chances -

JR was really solid in net … good to see …

Cam was in mid season form - with a boneheaded play that a peewee wouldn’t make. And of course he saw no decrease in ice time for it…

Imagine Z making that mistake… we’d never see him again …

I don’t care that Luneau made a mistake .. I’ll take it - his offense and size are really coming on.

The top 6 look better than I imagined.

We are going to be much better than people think- 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Yeah SJ was fugly … but a regulation W which I’ll take -

I was concerned about VKG on the B2B only to be pleasantly surprised-

Strong effort - after they got their legs moving - TT with a nice finish - 2 posts and Z stoned on a breakaway … so we had good chances -

JR was really solid in net … good to see …

Cam was in mid season form - with a boneheaded play that a peewee wouldn’t make. And of course he saw no decrease in ice time for it…

Imagine Z making that mistake… we’d never see him again …

I don’t care that Luneau made a mistake .. I’ll take it - his offense and size are really coming on.

The top 6 look better than I imagined.

We are going to be much better than people think- 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
- dozerD10

Why hate on Fowler so much. Is saw that play your talking about. It was a puck battle on the side of the net and Fowler had to stop the Knights from taking control of the puck. Yeah he hit it the wrong way but he had to fight for that puck. It just didn't happen.

I mean he's not skating the puck up as much so his possession time has gone down. Which has accounted for the low Analitics graph charts your probably looking at. So he's been playing mostly a defensive role.

I don’t know if you know this or not. But Analitics doesn't care about pairings, situational hockey, roles, ect. Analitics treats every player like every player should be bring the puck up the ice and never pass the puck. But the truth is there is only one puck. So Fowler is going g to to have to adjust to this new role. But I not going to hate him because he doesn't skate as fast as he use too. In truth this happens to every player. They all get older and have to take a different role in the team. And Fowler is going to have to adjust. But I believe he can make that adjustment.

You can also look at a guy like Drew Doughty. He's not as fast as he use to be so he's letting other players bring the puck up more. So he's made adjustments. He's plays smarter now. He has to think about is positioning more because he doesn't have the speed he use too. But he still manages. Playing against top lines. Older players tend to slow down and and just can't use there legs to get them out of trouble. That's when they make adjustments. Nothing wrong about it. So stop hating.

I must say the Cutter/Drysdale trade so far has been very underwhelming for both teams so far.
The jury is still out on Drysdale. Being that the flyers are on the West coast to start the season I haven’t been able to watch the last two games.
All reports though have the team and fans wanting more from the kid.
For sure CG was going to have some growing pains but what are your impressions so far?

I must say the Cutter/Drysdale trade so far has been very underwhelming for both teams so far.
The jury is still out on Drysdale. Being that the flyers are on the West coast to start the season I haven’t been able to watch the last two games.
All reports though have the team and fans wanting more from the kid.
For sure CG was going to have some growing pains but what are your impressions so far?
- bird_dog_pa

Cutter looks like he's thinking too much out there. Last night's game against Utah was his worst, and he rode the pine for a little while. He would be better served if he would just make the simple plays rather than the cute stuff.
As for Drysdale, the main problem Ducks management had with him was his decision making. For all of his skating ability and his wonderful hands, he would just go brain dead sometimes out there. Even though he's been in the NHL for 4 years, with all of his injuries, he's only played about 2 years worth of games. Jamie will figure it out, he's too skilled not to.

Cutter looks like he's thinking too much out there. Last night's game against Utah was his worst, and he rode the pine for a little while. He would be better served if he would just make the simple plays rather than the cute stuff.
As for Drysdale, the main problem Ducks management had with him was his decision making. For all of his skating ability and his wonderful hands, he would just go brain dead sometimes out there. Even though he's been in the NHL for 4 years, with all of his injuries, he's only played about 2 years worth of games. Jamie will figure it out, he's too skilled not to.
- duxcup07

Yep Cutter is out there trying too hard to make something happen.

You see glimpses though …. man his shot is just something that we don’t have anywhere else in the lineup.

Yep Cutter is out there trying too hard to make something happen.

You see glimpses though …. man his shot is just something that we don’t have anywhere else in the lineup.
- dozerD10

I don't know about that. Cutter's shot is great but did you see what Little Z did opening night? He knocked Ingram's mask right off his head. It happened right in front of me. I was very impressed!