Jake Rudolph
@jake.crashthepond.com
Proud USC Alumnus. Writer/Podcaster/Co Creator of Crash The Pond Contact: jrudolph91@gmail.com Work has previously appeared at SB Nation and the Sporting Tribune
The Ducks came out the gate with a good first 5 minutes but the 4th goal from Chicago and then the double penalties really killed the game. This was just not good enough
March 2, 2025 at 5:49 AM
The Ducks came out the gate with a good first 5 minutes but the 4th goal from Chicago and then the double penalties really killed the game. This was just not good enough
Overall this game has just not been good enough from the Ducks if they want to “be in the mix”. Yes they are ahead in xG but it is very tight, which should not be the case if the Ducks want to make a push.
March 2, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Overall this game has just not been good enough from the Ducks if they want to “be in the mix”. Yes they are ahead in xG but it is very tight, which should not be the case if the Ducks want to make a push.
The Ducks followed up that up and down 1st with a very good performance in the 2nd period and not only closed the xG gap but as you all know took the lead in the game. Now comes a very high pressure third and the question of if the Ducks continue this type of play
February 28, 2025 at 4:44 AM
The Ducks followed up that up and down 1st with a very good performance in the 2nd period and not only closed the xG gap but as you all know took the lead in the game. Now comes a very high pressure third and the question of if the Ducks continue this type of play
Ducks played a very good first 10ish minutes and looked extremely threatening but then kinda went completely flat offensively in the 2nd half of the period while the Canucks started to find their offensive flow.
February 28, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Ducks played a very good first 10ish minutes and looked extremely threatening but then kinda went completely flat offensively in the 2nd half of the period while the Canucks started to find their offensive flow.
Tonight was one of the worst 5v5 performances this team has had in a bit. Just did not generate a lot of dangerous offense and allowed a ton. The only redeeming thing is the PP scored, but this was a game the Ducks deservedly loss
February 26, 2025 at 6:16 AM
Tonight was one of the worst 5v5 performances this team has had in a bit. Just did not generate a lot of dangerous offense and allowed a ton. The only redeeming thing is the PP scored, but this was a game the Ducks deservedly loss
And to that question, even though they have scored, they largely have played poorly
February 9, 2025 at 5:56 AM
And to that question, even though they have scored, they largely have played poorly
This has been a better 5v5 performance for the Ducks and they have largely limited the Kings from generating good looks. My real question is how do they play in the third? This team has had some very poor thirds from a play perspective in tight games
February 9, 2025 at 5:21 AM
This has been a better 5v5 performance for the Ducks and they have largely limited the Kings from generating good looks. My real question is how do they play in the third? This team has had some very poor thirds from a play perspective in tight games
Also this chart from @allthreezones.bsky.social shows one of the large issues with Cronin’s system with this team. The Ducks are attempting to be a forechecking team, but just don’t have the horses for winning the pucks back. It’s a complete misalignment of roster to strategy
February 8, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Also this chart from @allthreezones.bsky.social shows one of the large issues with Cronin’s system with this team. The Ducks are attempting to be a forechecking team, but just don’t have the horses for winning the pucks back. It’s a complete misalignment of roster to strategy
This is interesting because it uses Sportlogiq data, which is a more comprehensive xG model than the public ones. As you can see, it agrees with the public models that from an on ice play perspective, the Ducks have taken a step back this season. Image per @jfreshhockey.bsky.social
February 5, 2025 at 7:18 PM
This is interesting because it uses Sportlogiq data, which is a more comprehensive xG model than the public ones. As you can see, it agrees with the public models that from an on ice play perspective, the Ducks have taken a step back this season. Image per @jfreshhockey.bsky.social
These images are from the Athletic’s player poll article. Needless to say this isnt helping Cronin’s reputation www.nytimes.com/athletic/610...
February 5, 2025 at 3:40 PM
These images are from the Athletic’s player poll article. Needless to say this isnt helping Cronin’s reputation www.nytimes.com/athletic/610...
For reference here are their current on ice heat maps per @hockeyviz.com
January 26, 2025 at 9:00 PM
For reference here are their current on ice heat maps per @hockeyviz.com
This was a game that was largely driven by the young guys having strong offensive showings, which is a good sign, along with goaltending for the Ducks and the Preds. People should not confuse the scoreline though with this being a good defensive performance.
January 26, 2025 at 5:44 AM
This was a game that was largely driven by the young guys having strong offensive showings, which is a good sign, along with goaltending for the Ducks and the Preds. People should not confuse the scoreline though with this being a good defensive performance.
Looks like the weird likes from yesterday are not sticking. Also that quote from Mason just shows one of the reasons why he has not been put in a spot to thrive this season.
January 23, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Looks like the weird likes from yesterday are not sticking. Also that quote from Mason just shows one of the reasons why he has not been put in a spot to thrive this season.
For fun here is the record through 46 games from this year and last year for the folks that want to look at the results instead of the process. They have 2 more regulation wins and 1 more shootout win to account for 6 more points. The rest of the difference is all overtime/SO losses
January 21, 2025 at 4:10 AM
For fun here is the record through 46 games from this year and last year for the folks that want to look at the results instead of the process. They have 2 more regulation wins and 1 more shootout win to account for 6 more points. The rest of the difference is all overtime/SO losses
Here are the forward lines that have had either McTavish or Zegras on them this season sorted by xGF% per
@evolving-hockey.com. There is the caveat of sample size for some of the lines. The two lines that Cronin decided to use per the practice lines are at 38%
@evolving-hockey.com. There is the caveat of sample size for some of the lines. The two lines that Cronin decided to use per the practice lines are at 38%
January 20, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Here are the forward lines that have had either McTavish or Zegras on them this season sorted by xGF% per
@evolving-hockey.com. There is the caveat of sample size for some of the lines. The two lines that Cronin decided to use per the practice lines are at 38%
@evolving-hockey.com. There is the caveat of sample size for some of the lines. The two lines that Cronin decided to use per the practice lines are at 38%
With the talent on this team, this type of season should simply be unacceptable. That’s not to say this team should be a contender or a playoff team, but they should be around 50% or have stretches at least above 50%. Chart per @evolving-hockey.com
January 19, 2025 at 5:13 PM
With the talent on this team, this type of season should simply be unacceptable. That’s not to say this team should be a contender or a playoff team, but they should be around 50% or have stretches at least above 50%. Chart per @evolving-hockey.com
Looking at the individual 5v5 numbers for the game, the McTavish line was very good while the Lundestrom line and 4th line were around breakeven. The line that gave up more than they got was the Strome line.
January 17, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Looking at the individual 5v5 numbers for the game, the McTavish line was very good while the Lundestrom line and 4th line were around breakeven. The line that gave up more than they got was the Strome line.
That was a much improved 5v5 performance for the Ducks largely driven by them having a very strong push after tying the game in the 3rd period. This was the first time they won the 5v5 xG battle since 12/29. The issue is special teams were extremely poor.
January 17, 2025 at 3:17 AM
That was a much improved 5v5 performance for the Ducks largely driven by them having a very strong push after tying the game in the 3rd period. This was the first time they won the 5v5 xG battle since 12/29. The issue is special teams were extremely poor.
This team is all goaltending. Thats pretty much it
January 16, 2025 at 7:00 PM
This team is all goaltending. Thats pretty much it
So that was a rough period might be an understatement.
January 15, 2025 at 12:56 AM
So that was a rough period might be an understatement.
Here are the Ducks' expected goal numbers per
@evolving-hockey.com
since the break at 5v5 and all situations. Quite simply the play has not been good enough over this 9 game stretch and unsustainable shooting percentages and stellar goaltending have made the record not as bad.
@evolving-hockey.com
since the break at 5v5 and all situations. Quite simply the play has not been good enough over this 9 game stretch and unsustainable shooting percentages and stellar goaltending have made the record not as bad.
January 12, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Here are the Ducks' expected goal numbers per
@evolving-hockey.com
since the break at 5v5 and all situations. Quite simply the play has not been good enough over this 9 game stretch and unsustainable shooting percentages and stellar goaltending have made the record not as bad.
@evolving-hockey.com
since the break at 5v5 and all situations. Quite simply the play has not been good enough over this 9 game stretch and unsustainable shooting percentages and stellar goaltending have made the record not as bad.
The Ducks have been bad defensively per most public models and now we also know that they have been bad on inner slot shots from more detailed private data. This all checks out. Image from www.thescore.com/news/3165955
January 10, 2025 at 9:00 PM
The Ducks have been bad defensively per most public models and now we also know that they have been bad on inner slot shots from more detailed private data. This all checks out. Image from www.thescore.com/news/3165955
And when you look deeper at GAR and xGAR you see that Fowler has vastly improved
January 8, 2025 at 2:50 PM
And when you look deeper at GAR and xGAR you see that Fowler has vastly improved
On the negative side of things, Vatrano and Strome really struggled without Terry and that goes to show how much he drives that line. Then the long lulls for offensive chances really hurts this team. After the tying goal they really played for the point.
January 8, 2025 at 6:10 AM
On the negative side of things, Vatrano and Strome really struggled without Terry and that goes to show how much he drives that line. Then the long lulls for offensive chances really hurts this team. After the tying goal they really played for the point.
As the numbers show for the night a huge positive is that Gauthier McTavish chemistry that has been burgeoning. Pavel also overall had a strong.
January 8, 2025 at 6:10 AM
As the numbers show for the night a huge positive is that Gauthier McTavish chemistry that has been burgeoning. Pavel also overall had a strong.