Philosophical Change Helps

Two months into the season, the Mighty Duck coaching staff decided to make some minor changes in an attempt to get their players playing on the same page.

Although the adjustments were not elaborate, the Ducks have responded by playing more consistent hockey, gaining three points in two games heading into Thursday night’s matchup against Vancouver.

“We’ve changed our philosophy on how we approach the game and how we’re going to win games,” forward Dan Bylsma said. “I think we’ve had some success playing that way. We need everyone buying into that type of play.”

What Coach Bryan Murray and his staff have emphasized most is that winning doesn’t always have to be pretty.

“We’re buying into the fact that we’re trying to move the puck out of our zone as a five-man unit and we’re trying to get the puck deep as a five-man unit and also play offense as a five-man unit,” Bylsma said. “If you watch teams that are having success, that’s how they play.”

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Heading into Thursday’s game against the Canucks, the Ducks had killed off 24 of their last 25 penalties.