Takeaways from the Ducks 3-2 Loss to the Maple Leafs

The Ducks wrapped up the Canadian leg of their four-game road trip on Thursday when they traveled to face the Toronto Maple Leafs for their third game in four nights and their second game of a back-to-back.

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The Ducks were hoping to stop the bleeding and end their four-game winless streak.

Toronto came into this game looking to claim their spot at the top of the Atlantic division.

Just before the game, the Ducks announced they had activated forward Robby Fabbri from IR. He had missed the team's last 13 games following arthroscopic knee surgery on Nov. 15.

Fabbri slotted in on the listed third line next to Mason McTavish and Cutter Gauthier.

The defensive logjam reared it's ugly head again in this game, solidifying a clear rotation and claiming it's latest victim: Olen Zellweger. Zellweger, Drew Helleson, and Ross Johnston were the healthy scratches in this game.

Lukas Dostal got the start in goal for the Ducks. He stopped 30 of the 33 shots he faced in this game.

Former Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz got the start in this game for the Leafs, but was forced to exit with a lower-body injury after making seven saves on eight shots. He was replaced by Joseph Woll who stopped 19 of 20 shots in relief.

Here are my notes from this game:

Jacob Trouba: Trouba displayed some of the nonchalant tendencies in this game, resembling aspects of his play from the latter stages of his Rangers' tenure. He didn't make significant mistakes, but was a tad slow to engage on the Leafs' third goal following a faceoff loss and hung back in the defensive zone for prolonged beats after pucks were moved up ice, contributing to sizable gaps when pucks were turned over.

Cycle: The Ducks offensive zone cycle lacks layers of creativity. Most of the time, forwards off the puck are battling for position in the slot, displaying very little off-puck movement, support, or cutting through soft ice.

When forwards released high or began to rotate at the top of the zone, it led to little more than low-danger perimeter shots without second chance opportunities. Their attack has been predictable and easy to defend.

Neutral Zone Forecheck: The Leafs are a team that prioritizes carrying pucks through neutral ice and into the offensive zone with possession. The Ducks' 1-1-3 was effective in forcing the Leafs to dump pucks in, but the Ducks' defensemen struggled to fend off forechecks and make clean first passes.

Jackson LaCombe: LaCombe was the most involved of the Ducks blueliners in this game by a significant margin. He was one of the few to absorb forechecks and ignite easy exits. He was astute in his own zone, quick to pinch to keep pucks alive in the offensive zone, and join rushes.

Mason McTavish: McTavish did well to make use of the ice created for him by the speedy, cutting nature of his linemates Gauthier and Fabbri. They were a disruptive forechecking line and did well to find each other in space.

The Ducks will next travel to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night.

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