Quack of Dawn: Ducks Morning Report – 02/01

The Ducks were back on the ice on Saturday morning after splitting their two-game road trip in Seattle and Calgary. The 4-1 loss to the Flames snapped a three-game winning streak.

Frank Vatrano picked up his 300th point in the loss on a shorthanded goal, Anaheim’s first of the season. It’s a tremendous accomplishment for Vatrano, who went undrafted and recently signed a three-year extension with Anaheim.

“I didn’t even know,” Vatrano said. “I knew I was close. I didn’t know that was the point that got it and then (the broadcast) let me know when I was doing the (radio intermission interview). It’s awesome, never thought it was something I could accomplish. To be able to do that is pretty cool. Wish we’d gotten the win instead, but it’s good to take a milestone like this.”

The Ducks will face the Montréal Canadiens on Sunday. Their team is coached by Martin St. Louis, another undrafted player who had to carve his way into the league. Vatrano said he is able to take inspiration from people like St. Louis.

“I think to see what he’s done in his career, obviously didn’t come easy to him,” Vatrano said. “He’s a smaller guy too, just like myself. He’s kind of a pioneer for the smaller guy and for a team to take chances on smaller guys. He played the game the right way and won a Stanley Cup. He did it all.”

Mason McTavish was not on the ice for Saturday’s practice. Afterwards, head coach Greg Cronin said that McTavish has “got something going on”, but they are unsure what the issue is. Cronin said that McTavish should be okay for Sunday’s game against the Canadiens.

When will Zellweger play again?

A healthy scratch in four consecutive games, Olen Zellweger has not played in a game since Jan. 21. Keeping things consistent while the team embarked on a three-game winning streak is understandable, but Zellweger is just 21 years old and needs to play games. With a loss on Thursday against Calgary…