Takeaways from the Ducks' 3-1 loss to the Golden Knights

The Anaheim Ducks traveled from San Jose to Vegas to face the Golden Knights in their second game in a matter of days to open their 2024-25 season.

Game #2: Ducks vs. Golden Knights game day preview

Jackson LaCombe remained out of the Ducks' squad due to illness. Olen Zellweger got the night off after filling in for LaCombe against the Sharks on Saturday.

Urho Vaakanainen made his season debut this season, playing on the left side of Radko Gudas. In that game, he was the Ducks' least-used defenseman, playing nearly six minutes less (13:47) than the next closest blueliner (Tristan Luneau – 19:33).

James Reimer made his Ducks debut in this game after being claimed off waivers six days ago. Reimer stopped 29 of the 32 shots he faced in the game. He saved 1.45 goals above expectations.

Ilya Samsonov started for the Golden Knights and continued his career dominance against the Ducks. He stopped 22 of 23 shots (2.22 GSAx) in that game and is now 3-0-0 in his career against the Ducks, with a .953 SV% and one shutout.

“I thought the first third was great. That’s how we’re supposed to play,” Ducks head coach Greg Cronin said after the game. “In the second half we kept turning pucks over. Over and over again, and when that happens you have to defend for most of the half, your legs get tired and you can’t really counter.”

Here are my notes for this game:

Defense zone coverage: Vegas is deploying much more active and offensively engaged defenders from its blueline, testing the integrity of the Ducks' man-to-man defensive zone system.

The Ducks were up to the task and did not allow themselves to be vulnerable to pick plays, keeping the off-puck defender under control and effectively limiting the chances of a transition.

Cutter Gauthier: Even though he didn't find enough space for many shots in his first two games of the season, Gauthier's wall game (particularly in the neutral zone after a passing pass) remains an underrated part of his game, being able to connect and support zone entries.

Tristan Luneau: Luneau still needs to simplify and adapt to the speed and limited time available to him in the NHL. He is too narrow in his gaps against rush attacks and had difficulty hitting the wide forward looking for a stretch pass.

Vatrano Strome Terry: The players listed on the Ducks' third line contributed 10 of the team's 23 shots in the game and 19 total shot attempts. Perhaps traditionally unconventional in terms of line construction, their playing styles complement each other well at the start of the season.

“We made plays when they were there,” Troy Terry said. “We threw it in when it was needed and I thought we foresaw thoroughly.”

Terry is the puck-transporter Strome and Vatrano crave in a linemate. Strome is an effective playmaker and creator below the offensive goal line, and Vatrano can sense rebounds from Terry's shot attempts or soft ice for feeds from Strome.

Terry's defensive activity and commitment also has the potential to mitigate some of the deficiencies in this department that Strome and Vatrano present in the pairing.

The Ducks will get a two-day break before facing undefeated Utah Hockey Club (3-0-0) in their home opener at Honda Center on Wednesday. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:00 p.m. PST.

THN Anaheim's 2024-25 Ducks predictions

Troy Terry isn't old, but he feels old