Puck management, zone time are areas Knights need to improve for Game 3

John Tortorella relies on his eyes more than what the numbers say this time of year.

He emerged from his office on Thursday to meet with reporters looking like someone who had been glued to a screen.

“I’ve just been watching tape all day long.”

How’s it going?

“Just wonderful,” he quipped.

Tortorella isn’t going to give the trade secrets away for what the Vegas Golden Knights need to do better heading into Game 3 against the Ducks at 6:30 p.m. on Friday at Honda Center in Anaheim.

Time spent in the offensive zone was one of the things he was blunt about.

“It comes down to battles,” Tortorella said. “We’re still trying to find our game.”

When asked about zone time, he quickly responded, “We don’t have the puck enough.”

There aren’t many readily available metrics that can dictate time in the offensive zone.

Anaheim did control the shot department, though, with a 63-48 edge in attempts in all situations.

It was closer at 5-on-5, with the Ducks at 42-34, according to Natural Stat Trick. The Ducks’ power play had a 15-1 advantage in attempts thanks to the eight-minute power play they had in the first period.

Even the numbers will support the eye test that the Ducks were all over the Knights. Anaheim was credited with 32 of its 35 scoring chances through the first two periods, along with 11 of its 13 high-danger looks.

“We’re not down in the series right now, but we’ve got to find our game and we have not done that,” Tortorella said. “That’s incumbent on us as a coaching staff to try and give them the right information and as a group, try to find it.”

The Knights had difficulty getting established in the offensive zone on Wednesday in the 3-1 loss that evened the best-of-seven series at a game apiece.

They had 19 giveaways in Game 2. Part of that was decision making, but there were too many one-and-done situations with the puck that didn’t result in enough chances.

“I think we saw some (good) tendencies in the third,” center William Karlsson said. “I think once we do get some possession going over the blue line, and we’re not reckless, we’ve got to manage the puck.”

Tortorella said he felt there was a lost opportunity when the Knights couldn’t build off the eight minutes of penalties they killed early in the first period.

It disrupts the flow of who to send over the boards, Tortorella said, but that shouldn’t have been a reason why the Knights couldn’t get to their game in the final 40 minutes.

“I’m sure it takes them a little bit to get back into the flow,” Tortorella said. “I tried to do the best job I could to get them back into the flow right away. We lost an opportunity in a great situation, killing those penalties.

“Maybe not getting it done in the first period because it takes some time but it shouldn’t affect the second or third.”

The Knights faced this similar situation in the first round, splitting the first two games at home, but lost Game 3 in Salt Lake City.

There are a number of points of emphasis that Tortorella will hammer home on Friday to avoid that letdown again. Just don’t expect him to tell you.

“I’m not going to talk about specifics,” he said. “There’s one in my head, yes. But I’m not going to put it in yours.”

Up next

Who: Golden Knights at Ducks

What: Game 3, second round (series tied 1-1)

When: 6:30 p.m. Friday

Where: Honda Center, Anaheim

TV: TNT, truTV, HBO Max

Radio: KFLG 94.7 FM/KKGK 1340 AM

Line: Even; total 6

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Golden Knights-Ducks series schedule

Game 1: Knights 3, Ducks 1

Game 2: Ducks 3, Knights 1

Game 3: Friday, 6:30 p.m. at Honda Center (TNT)

Game 4: Sunday, 6:30 p.m. at Honda Center (ESPN)

*Game 5: May 12, TBD at T-Mobile Arena (ESPN)

*Game 6: May 14, TBD at Honda Center (TNT)

*Game 7: May 16, TBD at T-Mobile Arena (ESPN or ABC)

*if necessary