The Utah Hockey Club will take on the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night at the Honda Center. The Hockey Club will be looking to get back on the plus side after dropping their first game of the season.
While the Utah Hockey Club is 3-1 to start the season, the loss against the New Jersey Devils in the Hockey Club’s last outing exposed the Hockey Club’s weaknesses.
Now, it’s crucial to dig a little deeper into this point as the game against the Devils could open the door for other teams to shut down Utah.
Let’s start by talking about the Hockey Club’s first three wins. Each win was a high-scoring affair with Utah scoring at least five goals in each game. The game versus the New York Rangers was a wild one in which neither team really played defense.
Therein lies the issue. Up to now, the Hockey Club’s style has focused on speed and catching opponents flat-footed. It worked against the Chicago Blackhawks and the New York Islanders. But the Devils were on to it.
How so?
The Devils play the same style as the Hockey Club. The Devils play a strong puck-possession game focused on controlling the play. So, the Devils made the Hockey Club chase the puck all night long. Since the Hockey Club had to battle for pucks, they couldn’t get their usual high-octane offense going.
Devils’ goalie Jake Allen also deserves credit. He made several key saves to keep Utah off the scoresheet. Still, had the Hockey Club played its usual style, the outcome could have been much different. However, the Devils picked up on it, and shut out the Hockey Club.
The Utah Hockey Club faces a tough challenge in the Anaheim Ducks
So, what can fans expect against the Ducks?
If the Ducks did their homework, they’ll try to do the same thing the Devils did. As such, the Hockey Club will need to focus on winning faceoffs and getting the puck. Strong puck retrieval in their own end and quick transitions will also be key for the Hockey Club.
Of course, the Ducks are not quite as talented as the Devils. However, the seeming endless rebuild in Anaheim has yielded some talented players. As such, the Hockey Club has a good chance to win, but it can’t rest on its laurels.
The Hockey Club’s young care, albeit talented, must realize that long-term success in the NHL boils down to grinding away most nights. While playing a high-scoring style is fun, most games are decided by battles along the boards and in the corners.
Hopefully, Utah can build on lesson learned, allowing it to become a better overall club.