Three Adjustments the Ducks can Make in Game 2 vs the Oilers
Ducks must reclaim offensive identity. Game 2 demands relentless pressure and decisive play from the opening puck drop to challenge the Oilers.
Video Transcript
John, what'd you like about the way your team played last night?
I think a lot of things.
I think, you know, I think coming back down two-oh, I think that, that second period was, you know, obviously score-wise was great, but I think we, we executed our game plan well, on both sides of the ice.
I think, you know, I think we probably played, one of our better games with the lead that, since I've been here as well, and it didn't, manufacture us anything.
But, I, I think, just things to, to build on, to, to work, work through and, keep getting better.
John, there's, opportunities that always pop up in series, and you've been plenty of them.
so was last night Connor doesn't get on the score sheet.
Leon's not at a hundred percent yet.
Was last night opportunity lost?
no.
I mean, I, I, I think any loss is a, is a loss, no matter how it, how it shakes out.
I think there will, there will always be games that make, a lot of sense and games that'll make no sense.
So it's, it's part of our job to navigate whatever the waters are to, to come up with a win.
And, you know, now our, our focus is, is on the next game and, build off of the good things that we did, clean up some, some of our mistakes and failures and, you know, have our best game of the season next one.
How did you think your young guys that have never been in a playoff game before responded last night?
I think they played great.
I think, you know, we have a, a style of play, an attacking style of play offensive, that, you know, just 'cause it's the playoffs, we can't lose that too.
We can't, you can't lose your bread and butter to, to try to play more, quote, you know, defensive or playoff, you know, lockdown style.
so I think you gotta find the balance and, that's what every team in the league is, is trying to do.
But yeah, I think, you know, obviously the game one of the playoffs is always a, a wild ride it seems.
But, I think they handled, they handled themselves great and, you know, a lot of them had big moments of, of the game to, to get us, back into it and, you know, we'll look for, for more of that.
As an older player, do you watch the young kids when you were once in the playoffs?
Do you watch them to see how they react in the playoffs?
Um- It's much different from regular season.
Yeah, I think so.
I think it's, but at the same time, I think these kids coming in are fearless now too, which is, which is great.
You don't wanna, you don't want the moment to get too big, but, like, like always, it's, you gotta be who you are.
You gotta play how you play and, obviously the everything means a little bit more and everything's gonna get tightened up a little bit more and harder to, you know, get into certain areas, scoring areas, stuff like that.
So how do you navigate those things?
But, I, I think overall I think they've, they've, they did a great job in, in game one and, certainly gonna build on that for the next one.
John, you- Go ahead.
Is that who Leo is who wants the puck last night?
Nine shots, thirteen shot attempts.
Yeah.
I mean, he played phe-phenomenal and he's been, he's been unbelievable down the stretch here too.
And, yeah, he, he likes, he likes setting guys up.
He likes taking it to the net.
he's been, he's been great for us and, and certainly seems like, he's a threat every time he's out there on the ice.
John, you know, Troy Terry, I know you've only been around him for a short time now, but it's pretty clear that he's been playing through something or stuff throughout this year in terms of missing practices and skates or whatsoever, but what, what's the impression that he's now left on you thus far with what he's done, what he's doing and- Yeah, I mean, you could tell he's, he's such a big part of the team.
He's, he drives, pretty much every- wherever they put him, he, that line's going that night and that just seems like, you know, the few games that, that he's missed that I was here, you know, that was a, that was a huge hole for us.
So, you feel his presence on the ice and certainly had a, a huge game for us and, you know, along with Leo there and, it was, you know, he's a, he's a huge part of our team.
You kept McDavid off the score sheet last night, and every defenseman will say that they want to keep gaps tight on him, but, how much do you attribute that success to your back checkers and defending as a five-man unit?
Yeah, I, I think that's everything.
I think, you know, even just little things.
I, I think staying above people, you know, trying to, trying to protect the center of the ice.
I think he's, he's dangerous wherever he is at.
He's, he had, you know, plenty of looks last night too.
But, I, I think just a, a five-man unit, I think that's, everyone kinda game plans the same thing against a, a player like that that's so dangerous, whenever he has the puck, wherever it is.
But yeah, the back pressure, I think our we were responsible coming, coming out of the zone and, just those little things add up and, certainly, you know, try to make it as difficult as we can.
When it comes to the goals that h- were scored last night, it kind of felt like they weren't necessarily buildups of play, but just sort of, you know, kind of lightning bolts, if you will.
How, how do you kind of approach those and try to, you know, keep as buckled down as you can for a full sixty?
Yeah, I think it's just the importance of, of never, never letting off the gas.
I think that's a, a, a lesson for everyone.
Just, you know, every play is magnified, every play, means something.
whether that's just a, a simple chip in or, you know, a huge back check or a dive or a block or save, whatever it is.
So those are, those plays are all, all over the ice.
they add up quickly and, you know, you gotta be on the right side of them.
John- With your playoff experience dropping any first game of any round, what's the key?
What's the mindset?
Is it a do or die approach or what's the mentality heading into the game?
Well, yeah, I, I think every, every game you, you go out there with, as much enthusiasm to win that game as possible.
but certainly, yeah, this is a, an important game for us.
you know, you, you never wanna lose, but how, how are we gonna respond?
How is this team gonna, bounce back and, and put the pressure back on them?
I think that's, that's our goal and, that's what we'll be talking about.
You mentioned there's some things that you guys can clean up.
What are some of those things?
just little mistakes here and there.
I think, you know, I think we were, we were pretty clean with the puck, for the majority of the night.
But tho- like I said, those, those little, you know, whether it's on the PK, make sure you get, get the puck down the ice when you get it on your stick instead of, giving them another attack or, at the blue line, stuff like that.
Those little things are, are big moments in the game and, especially against a dynamic attacking team like them.
you know, to make them earn their, their great looks is, is something we'll, we'll always talk about.
Thanks.
