Fowl Play: Ducks set franchise record by failing to record a shot in the 2nd period of Game 4
Through 40 minutes of Saturday night's Game 4, the Anaheim Ducks are clinging to a two-goal lead against the Los Angeles Kings. And they're clinging in the literal sense.
The Ducks failed to record a single shot in the second period and barely managed a single attempt. Essentially they went into a defensive shell and just flat-lined:
[Courtesy Extraskater.com]
It was the first time in Ducks franchise history that the team failed to record even a single measly shot on goal in a period during the Stanley Cup playoffs. Not only was Anaheim's shot-less period record setting, it also resulted in some pretty amusing statistical quirks:
Martin Jones has played 20 minutes in this game. He sat on the bench for 20 minutes. His save percentage during both is the same.
— Cörey Masisak (@cmasisak22) May 11, 2014
While the Ducks generated zero territorial pressure, and didn't test Jonathan Quick's replacement Martin Jones with a single look, they did block a number of shots. Through 40 minutes, the Ducks have blocked 26 shots in total - none bigger than this Ryan Getzlaf pad stop that bailed out rookie Jonathan Gibson:
[By @myregularface, courtesy NBCSN]
Can the Ducks hang on for the victory in Game 4? Maybe, but they might have an easier time of it if they press the issue, even just a little bit.