Takeaways from the Geese' 4-1 Loss to the Kings

The Anaheim Geese hosted their rival Los Angeles Kings for the primary iteration of the 2024-25 “Freeway Face-Off” on Sunday night time at Honda Heart.

Game #5: Ducks vs. Kings Gameday Preview

Frank Vatrano returned to the Geese lineup after lacking Friday’s sport towards the Colorado Avalanche. He was residence along with his household, awaiting the arrival of his second baby.

Isac Lundestrom remained out of the lineup on account of an upper-body harm suffered Wednesday within the Geese OT win over Utah.

Jackson LaCombe made his 2024-25 debut on this sport after lacking the workforce’s first 4 video games with an sickness.

Lukas Dostal received the beginning for the Geese within the crease following a 45-save efficiency on Friday in Denver. Dostal logged one other spectacular efficiency in defeat with 28 saves on 30 pictures confronted.

To oppose him, David Rittich received the cage for the Kings, stopping 12 of simply 13 pictures.

“We didn’t skate,” Geese head coach Greg Cronin mentioned after the sport. “The best way we performed, you’re not successful shifts, you’re not successful video games. We had no stress on the puck and we did every thing half pace. I’m unsure why. We seemed gradual.”

Listed below are my notes on this sport:

Kings: Now that the Kings deploy a 1-2-2 impartial zone forecheck, they play a particularly related defensive type to the Cronin wishes to ice in Anaheim. They trigger disruption deep within the offensive zone on the forecheck, get well unfastened pucks at will, and capitalize on the chaos created by their tenacity.

Jackson LaCombe: This was LaCombe’s first sport again after a spectacular preseason was adopted by sickness. He confirmed flashes early of the participant who was praised by coaches and teammates throughout coaching camp.

He was defensively sound, killing rushes and remaining on assignments. He used his poise and skating skill to steer rushes. He made two important errors and sadly they ended up within the Geese’ web.

“I assumed he performed very well, and he had two shifts that weren’t good,” Cronin mentioned. “I assumed his different shifts have been effective.”

Energy Play: The Geese energy play is now 0-17. The teaching workers switched the personnel, but it surely did not yield higher outcomes on this sport.

The Los Angeles PK acknowledged the disjointedness of the Geese’ mixture of unfamiliarity with one another and their assist and pressured closely alongside the perimeter. The Geese have been typically compelled to rim pucks simply to keep up possession and solely managed two pictures in six minutes with a man-advantage.

Cutter Gauthier: Whereas his effort degree hasn’t been a problem since he noticed little or no ice within the final half of the Geese’ sport towards Utah on Wednesday, he does have some elements of his sport that want refinement and a spotlight.

His choice making with the puck on the ability play is questionable at instances as is his method to forechecking at 5v5. To be a profitable forechecker within the NHL, a ahead both should outsmart the puck retriever or show a high-motor and outwork them, forcing turnovers. Gauthier is caught within the center as an NHL forechecker early in his profession.

He has the instruments to make an impression deep within the offensive zone, however he requires some adjustment in that division.

The Geese will look to show their fortunes round after they host the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night time at 7:15 pm PST, as a part of the NHL’s “Frozen Frenzy,” the place all 32 groups will play on someday.

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