How the Ducks’ Surprising 4-1 Victory Over the Blues Could Rewrite Their Season Narrative
Pavel Mintyukov: Since he was reinserted into the lineup after his trio of scratches, Mintyukov has been the Ducks’ best defenseman (opinion). On Monday, he tallied a goal and an assist on the scoresheet, and when he was on the ice at 5v5 (13:40 TOI), the Ducks won the shot attempt battle 21-10, the shots on goal battle 9-6, and held 72.23% of the expected goals share.
His off-puck reads and active, disruptive stick broke up several Blues attacks, and he engaged attackers through the hands and body when needed. He manufactured puck touches in the offensive zone by moving his feet to open ice, whether down the wall or at the blueline. When he had the puck at the perimeter, he took smart shots, looking for tips and to shoot around screens when passing options weren’t available. This could just be another flash of what Mintyukov has to offer, or it could be the early stages of a breakout season for the now 22-year-old blueliner.
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