Ducks to trust process, keep shooting in search of offensive breakthrough

IRVINE, Calif. – All of the metrics pointed to an offensive breakthrough for the Anaheim Ducks against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.

The Ducks posted season highs overall and at 5-on-5 in shot attempts, expected goals for, scoring chances and high-danger scoring chances, with most by wide margins. Anaheim posted 17 more shot attempts than its previous all-strengths high, nearly 1.3 more expected goals, 18 more scoring chances and 11 more high-danger chances.

And yet, the Ducks were held scoreless until a third-period turnover strike by the fourth line and a power play goal on its fifth man-advantage attempt with four seconds remaining in a 4-2 loss to the visiting Blackhawks.

The lack of offensive production has exasperated players, coaches and fans alike with the Ducks sitting last in the NHL in goals scored. Anaheim is second only to Nashville in lack of 5-on-5 goals scored.

“It’s frustrating,” Ducks coach Greg Cronin said on Sunday. “I’ve never seen this before. I haven’t seen it in a long time where we just can’t score. We’re not scoring.”

Overall, the Ducks are in the bottom quarter of the league in shot attempts, shot attempt share, scoring chances and high-danger scoring chances.

All of that points to the Ducks needing to generate more shots. Even in their season-high performance on Sunday, Cronin thought the team could have taken 20 more shot attempts, especially late in the third period.

“I just think it’s a habit,” Cronin said. “Just mentally, it should be everything’s going to the net. It shouldn't have to be coached into them.

“There’s four or five times in the third period, it’s 3-1, and we have opportunities to throw it at the net from decent scoring areas with an opportunity for a driving forward to get a rebound, and we just don’t do it. That’s where my blood pressure goes up.”

At practice at Great Park Ice on Monday, that was the on-ice focus: driving the puck deep, skating full speed and getting shots on net.

Emblematic of the push for shot attempts and offensive zone time has been the line of Trevor Zegras, Cutter Gauthier and Alex Killorn.

Since the line was formed with Zegras’ shift back to center three games ago, the trio has been the Ducks’ best line analytically, leading the team in shot attempt share in each game. Zegras, Gauthier and Killorn were the only line to post positive possession numbers and a goal by Killorn in Pittsburgh, and against Chicago, the line earned 78.57% of the shot attempts while on the ice, 22 for and only six against.

However, Zegras and Gauthier, along with last season’s leading scorer Frank Vatrano and last season’s third-leading scorer Mason McTavish, are among the Ducks without a 5-on-5 goal this season. Zegras and Vatrano each have one empty-net tally, and McTavish finally got in the goal column with last night’s late power play score.

Zegras and his line are playing how they want to play, but the 23-year-old acknowledged they simply need to finish.

“It’s a matter of getting the puck on your stick, and shooting it into the net,” Zegras said. “That’s as simple as I can put it. I feel like we’re doing everything else but that. Process over outcome.

“It’s tough to describe the feeling, like playing really well and having nothing to show for it. I feel we’re getting a chance almost every shift. It’s about putting the puck in the net now.”

Gauthier is still in search of his first NHL goal after leading the NCAA in goals last season at Boston College. The 20-year-old leads the Ducks in shots and individual expected goals and is second in individual scoring chances and individual high-danger chances.

Gauthier has four assists and, like Zegras, said he still likes the way their grouping is playing.

“I feel like the last four or five games, I’ve been playing a lot better, getting more consistent, getting used to my linemates and creating a lot of good opportunities on net,” Gauthier said. “Unfortunately, none of them have gone in so far, but you’ve got to keep a light mind and a small memory.

“Keep pushing forward and get through the little hump… Just soon enough, they’re going to go for us.”

The 2022 No. 5 overall pick also recognized that while he does lead the team in shots, he could “start shooting lower, so I stop missing the net.”

McTavish knows the struggle of a top-5 pick struggling to pick up his first NHL goal. As he finally scored in the Ducks’ 11th game of this season, the 2021 No. 3 overall pick recalled it took 12 games for his first career goal on Nov. 5, 2022.

McTavish said how quick players can lose confidence in the NHL, but how himself and the other young Ducks can keep pushing forward.

“It’s tough, for sure,” McTavish said. “It’s really hard. I feel like general people, they don’t realize how much pressure we put on ourselves to perform. I’m sure some do.

“I think there’s little things you can do. Staying out on the ice later, working on hitting the net every shot, taking some passes and shooting. Just making sure you’re doing absolutely everything you can, just so you know you can. I think the biggest thing is staying positive and just know it’s coming.”

Anaheim will be hard-pressed to find its offensive break on Tuesday when the Vancouver Canucks come to Honda Center. The Canucks are second-best in the league in shot attempts allowed, scoring chances allowed and high-danger chances allowed.

The Ducks will look to trust their process and keep shooting to break their and Vancouver’s form.