Evidence that the Anaheim Ducks have a different offensive style could be found 70 seconds into a recent game against Minnesota.
A whistle blew nine seconds in, and the coach did not call for a line change. Then the top line of Bobby Ryan, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry stayed out for more than a minute.
Those things rarely happened under former coach Randy Carlyle. Carlyle was so stuck on matchups and changes that a common sight was a Ducks player heading to the bench with a look of resignation because his shift lasted all of 15 seconds.
While the honeymoon is clearly over with new coach Bruce Boudreau — the Ducks have blown 3-0 and 2-0 leads in his first two games, both losses — Anaheim appears to have a looser style that could spark more goals on an offense that has averaged just 2.27 goals per game before Tuesday's game against the Kings, worst in the Western Conference.
That much was clear in the first few days of Boudreau’s tenure, when he laid out his philosophy to his new players.
“His main selling point is, 'You can do pretty much whatever you want as long as you don’t make a mistake,'" veteran winger Teemu Selanne said.
Boudreau, whose approach made the Capitals the highest-scoring team in the NHL two seasons ago, said that he’s not a coach that will make line changes “every 12 seconds.”
And after his first game with the Ducks, he noted that there was more talent in Anaheim than he thought.
In addition to the top line, there is Selanne and Saku Koivu. Defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky is expected to return this month from a broken finger, too.
Another intriguing piece at Boudreau’s disposal is young defenseman Cam Fowler. Can Boudreau do for Fowler what he did for Washington’s Mike Green?
Green went from 12 points in 70 games during the 2006-07 season to 56, 73 and 76 over the next three campaigns. Fowler had 40 points as a rookie last season; through 26 games as a sophomore he had 13 points, but a minus-15 plus/minus rating.
Fowler smiled at the notion, then spoke about the team.
“It will be interesting to see,” Fowler said. “Already we’re starting to get a good feel for his systems and what he expects as a group. I think the main thing is that he wants us to play with energy and be aggressive.
“We have a lot of guys who can bring that style of game and guys that can skate. That’s what he wants. He wants us to push the pace. I think with him being here the last couple of days, that’s the overall feeling that you get.”
Fowler also said that Boudreau “expects a solid defensive team."
"That’s what he’s been preaching since he got here," Fowler said. "That’s what we need to tighten up as a group. The first priority for me is making sure that the puck stays out of my net, and just try to contribute on the offensive side as much as I can.”
At this point Boudreau has already seen how the Ducks manage to find ways to lose because of their aversion to playing a complete game.
Minnesota spotted Anaheim a 2-0 lead before plotting a comeback, scoring a 5-on-3 goal with four seconds remaining in the first period.
“We’ve allowed four power-play goals in the last two games and they’re all either 4-on-3 or 5-on-3,” Boudreau said after Sunday’s game. “It stems from a turnover where you’ve got to get the puck out. Those are simple things in hockey.”
Boudreau cited a lack of confidence — precisely the reason why Carlyle was fired.
A more open offense? Sure. But Boudreau has other worries first.
“When you’re losing, you go 'Here we go again,''' Boudreau said. “To get out of that, you’ve got to change your mindset. Until we change our mindset, it’s not going to happen.”
