Seeking to build off a pair of complete performances at home, the Ducks journeyed to Seattle to try to tame the Kraken on Tuesday night.
The Ducks won their last two games and scored five goals in consecutive contests for the first time in two years. Still the lowest-scoring team in the NHL overall, they’ve crossed the five-goal threshold in only seven matches this season, though one of them was a 5-2 win in Seattle on Nov. 27. That game bucked another trend by snapping a head-to-head win streak of eight games for the Kraken.
That was also the last multipoint game for Trevor Zegras before Saturday’s one-goal-and-one-assist showing against Nashville. Zegras missed six-and-a-half weeks after tearing his meniscus on Dec. 4.
While Zegras’ return has been impactful, it has been overshadowed by the outburst of Mason McTavish, whose five goals in three games earned him the NHL’s Second Star of the Week honors.
McTavish has played across all four lines in his career, and this season he’s spent time in both the top and bottom six. After a stint on second-liner Leo Carlsson’s wing, he was back centering the third line with Cutter Gauthier and Robby Fabbri, leading Coach Greg Cronin to describe him matter-of-factly as “a third-line guy who has offensive ability.”
If anyone thought the passing remarks were casting McTavish in stone as a grinder – which would be inconsistent with comments Cronin has made about McTavish becoming a star in the past – Cronin’s evaluation after the Nashville game clarified his position.
“Mack can carry a line. He’s a big, physical guy that possesses the puck and he shoots the puck,” said Cronin, who noted that the scoring surge invigorated McTavish’s overall play. “When he’s got confidence, he’s got more pace to his game, and he’s got more speed to it.”
With Zegras and McTavish augmenting an attack that had leaned heavily on Troy Terry and Frank Vatrano – they’ve combined for three points in two games while McTavish and Zegras have produced seven – the Ducks (20-23-6, 46 points) have been able to back up defenses at the offensive blue line and sustain pressure offensively more consistently of late.
If there’s an individual player who could further enhance their attack, it might be Carlsson. He was injured in a Nov. 25 loss to Seattle and from that game forward he’s had stretches with one goal in 11 games, one goal in eight games and, currently, one goal in his past five games.
“He had a breakaway again (against Nashville). He’s getting point-blank shots. You get worried when these offensive guys don’t get chances, but he’s been getting his chances,” Cronin said. “Seriously, he could have had a goal a game in his last three or four games. That’ll come. He’s a young kid, he’s a very quiet kid, but he’s got an inner confidence that’s going to create some more scoring for him in the near future.”
Carlsson is more known for his playmaking, but his production has been even more deficient passing the puck, having chipped in just two assists in his last 24 games. He was selected by Sweden to the upcoming Four Nations tournament roster because of his ability to drive play and distribute the puck.
“I hope he gets it [going] before he goes to the Four Nations. We’ve got some games to play,” Cronin said.
The Ducks’ next game to play is against the Kraken (22-25-3, 47 points), who have won three of their past four games by multiple goals, most recently beating the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-1.
Entering Monday’s games, the Ducks and Kraken were two of just four teams in the NHL whose leading scorers (Terry and Jared McCann) had point totals in the 30s. The other two were the New York Islanders and Calgary Flames, with the Ducks set to visit the latter on Thursday.
DUCKS AT KRAKEN
When: Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Where: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle
How to watch: KCOP (Ch. 13)/Victory+
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