What a difference a week and a few days can make. After taking a beating from the Chicago Blackhawks back on March 12, all it took was some time, different color uniforms, and a locale change from the Chicago winters to the California sunshine for the Anaheim Ducks to give it right back last night to the tune of a 4-0 victory.
From the drop of the puck, the Ducks had jump, were disciplined, and took advantage of their opportunities. This is an increasingly rare combination of factors, but they had them all last night in an overall feel-good win to snap their seven-game losing streak. Let’s look at the biggest takeaways.
Big Nights for Vatrano, Leason, and Killorn
Let’s start with Frank Vatrano, who netted his elusive 30th goal of the season from a spot he has scored many goals from – his offside wing on the power play. Scoreless in his previous nine games, he has relentlessly shot the puck (40 shots in those games), put himself in all the right positions, and even hit a few posts, but had been stuck in a drought, much like the rest of his teammates.
Vatrano has been a pitbull this season, playing with aggression, competitiveness, and a will to score that rightfully earned him an All-Star nod. He has earned each of those 30 goals and it was nice to see him finally rewarded with his first career 30-goal campaign.
Related: Ducks’ Goals for Final Games of the 2023-24 Season
Brett Leason had a productive game as well with a goal and an assist, his first two points since his two-goal outing against the same Blackhawks on March 12. His goal was a thing of beauty. Recognizing that he didn’t have many passing options, he skated hard up ice and drove the defenseman back before finding a shooting lane by curling the puck in and shooting through the defender. Changing the angle like that can give goaltenders trouble, especially when the defenseman is used as a screen. It was perfect placement. He has five points in his previous 10 games, and has earned a long look and extra playing time over the next 12 games.
And finally, there’s Alex Killorn. The Ducks’ marquee signing of last summer’s free agency delivered goals 13 and 14 on the season, bumping his point total to 30 in 51 games played. In 11 games played in March, he has a stat line of six goals and one assist while getting consistent ice time and opportunity alongside Leo Carlsson and Troy Terry on the top line. He will likely continue getting those opportunities despite the pending return of Trevor…
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