Analytics Breakdown: *Equip Sunglasses*

Fancy that we all meet again in this wonderful locale called Crash The Pond. It is time for another installment of the analytics breakdown, but with some slight restructuring. We are going to set the vibes with the song of the game

Song of the Game

Hot Mulligan is from Michigan per the google machine and there was always the great meme of Gibson being pissed on the ice with the photoshopped sunglasses on. It is just that simple.

5v5 Play

So let’s jump right into this game. There was not a ton of continuous 5v5 play in this game, with the 1st period being the only period with a continuous stretch of about 10 minutes or more. All of the periods were broken up by a ton of penalties, so it is very hard to get a read on this game at 5v5. This game also had the lowest 5v5 ice time total at only 40.82 minutes in the game, and the season average for the Ducks has been 47.55 minutes, including this game.

Having said that, let’s try to draw some conclusions from the data and charts, along with the eye test from the game. For the first two periods, this was one of the Ducks’ better 5v5 games. They really did a good job of limiting the Detroit shots to be from non-dangerous locations, while also finding ways to get their own looks of offensive zone time and rush chances. This is something they have struggled with of late, so it is nice to see it look a bit more consistent in this game.

5v5 Shot Chart for Periods 1 and 2 combined

The chart above really shows the disparity in shot location over the first two periods, with the Ducks doing a good job of getting into the slot and high danger locales, while largely limiting the Red Wings.

The only main issue at 5v5 for the Ducks cameearly in the third after the Ducks took a 4-2 lead in the game. They allowed Detroit to get to the front of the net and get 5 extremely dangerous looks that totaled to nearly a full expected goal. If Dostal had not been as sharp as he was in this game, the Ducks could have given up a 3rd goal there with a lot of time left in the game.

Overall though the 5v5 game was improved in this one for the Ducks with there being less disastrous turnovers resulting in high danger looks.

On the individual player level at 5v5, I really want to highlight Mason McTavish in this game. He was really the straw that stirred the drink, not only for his line but the Ducks as a whole at even strength. He was a force to be reckoned with along the wall with the puck and kept finding ways to get dangerous shots for himself. To me, he has been the Ducks’ best forward to start the season.

Special Teams

So far this season, the Ducks have been a team that has been weaker at 5v5, but has found ways to win games as a result of strong special teams play, discipline, and goaltending. Only one of those occurred in this game. I think the Power Play was fine in this game, with Kreider scoring a quick goal in the third on the PP and looking dangerous on the only other non-interupted PP early in the 1st period, but in large part I want to focus on the PK.

Yes, they have looked extremely dangerous in transition going the other way, which is undoubtedly a good thing. If you can consistently generate offense down a man, that can really help you win games, but they were fortunate not to allow more than 1 game on the penalty kill in this one. Detroit generated about 2.25 xG in non-5v5 situations to nearly double that total. The Ducks’ PK started strong by limiting chances, but has started to get a bit squirrely.

This is compounded by their penchant for taking penalties in this game. Coming into this game, the Ducks were a +7 in penalty differential on the season, which was good for 4th best in the league, but after the game, that changed to only +4. The discipline for the Ducks has been a huge positive for them this season, especially in third periods where they are leading. That was not the case in this game, with the Ducks taking 3 penalties in the third, along with some other rough decisions to engage in scrums late with a two-goal lead. To win in this league consistently, you have to avoid those errors.

Goaltending

Not sure what else there is to say except Lukas Dostal is a bona fide number 1 goalie in the league right now. He is currently 6th in the league with an 8.65 GSAx and is a major driver behind the results for the Ducks so far this season. If they can find a way to improve their 5v5 play, this team could take that step they want to.

Brian Hayward Fit Check

This is going to seem harsh, but I was extremely disappointed by the one we called Hazy. On Halloween, he decided to give us this fairly basic look instead of going all out with flair or a costume. I was expecting so much from Hayward and left so disappointed.

This look for Halloween night gets a 1/10.
All stats per Evolving-Hockey and Hockey Viz