The Anaheim Ducks hosted the San Jose Sharks Thursday evening at Honda Center for their second pre-season game of the 2024-25 season.
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This game featured significantly more NHL regulars from Anaheim than their previous tilt on Tuesday.
Lukas Dostal got the start between the pipes, but the mandate heading into this game was to split it evenly between Dostal and Calle Clang.
Dostal stopped 12 of 13 shots in his 30:05 TOI. Clang only saw six shots, but allowed two goals, including a power play goal in the game’s dying minutes and a goal from Luca Cagnoni to win it in overtime.
All three goals allowed were scored around the net-front area, a location that’s received significant attention throughout the course of Ducks training camp.
“The second guy coming in, Clang, that’s a tough one,” Ducks head coach Greg Cronin said of the team splitting goalie duties in this game. “I thought he played really good. Dostal is Dostal. He’s extremely focused and very confident.”
Only so many conclusions can be drawn from pre-season hockey with the mixture of NHL regulars and those vying for jobs, but here are my notes from this game:
Gauthier-Carlsson-Killorn: As expected, the Ducks top line dominated possession at 5v5 in this game. Leo Carlsson drove play in transition, displaying a combination of explosiveness and shiftiness unseen before. He consistently cut to open ice and found Cutter Gauthier in the space he created.
Gauthier accounted for over a third of the Ducks shots in this game (12 of 34). He jumped to open ice, reading the gaps in San Jose’s defensive structure before shooting at will. Unfortunately, none of his shots found the back of the net, but a promising sign nonetheless.
Killorn’s nuanced performance disrupted opposing forechecks and kept plays alive in the offensive zone.
Jackson LaCombe: LaCombe led the game in ice time by a wide margin, logging 28:41 TOI through regulation and overtime. He was featured on the team’s top power play unit, facilitating and keeping pucks moving through the top of the umbrella.
He also featured on the penalty kill, winning net-front battles and eliminating passing lanes.
“Honestly, not as winded as I thought,” LaCombe said when asked how he felt after logging nearly 30 minutes. “Props to the coaches for how they’re running training camp. It’s obviously getting everyone in shape.”
Forecheck: The Ducks forecheck was notably disruptive early with defensemen quick to activate and eliminate the Sharks first option. As the game progressed, San Jose simplified and the Ducks were forced to adjust to a rush-based attack, which they did amicably.
Power Play: The power play ran through Carlsson and Mason McTavish on the left flank and bumper. The two were active, consistently moving within the structure to get open depending on where the puck was. Using creativity to open passing lanes in those areas will be the focal point of the team’s top unit.
The Ducks’ next pre-season game will be Saturday Sept. 28, against the Los Angeles Kings at Toyota Center in Ontario, CA at 3 pm PST.
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