Rookie Mason McTavish rewarding Ducks for their trust
IRVINE — It didn’t take Mason McTavish long to put an emphatic stamp on the game as a first-line center Wednesday, with a clever assist and a power-play goal before the contest was 12 minutes old.
What wasn’t as visible was also highly important, illustrating the rookie’s swift development. The Ducks were holding on to a 2-0 lead late and the Dallas Stars pulled goalie Scott Wedgewood for an extra attacker. Ducks coach Dallas Eakins called McTavish’s line to get ready and McTavish turned to Eakins and said, “It’s 6 on 5.”
“I just looked at him with a grin and said, ‘Can you handle it?’” Eakins said Thursday, the morning after the Ducks’ 2-0 win against the Stars. “He was like, ‘Yeah, I’ve got it.’ It’s interesting that he has an awareness of the game. ‘Coach, see it’s 6 on 5.’ Yeah, I saw it and you’re going.
“He was double-checking. Not that he doesn’t believe in himself. But he wanted to make sure that was the right thing to do in the game.”
There will be new challenges for McTavish at the position, especially on the road where they don’t have the last change. The Ducks have four more games at home before starting a six-game trip Jan. 16 at Pittsburgh. McTavish has 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in 39 games, five points behind the NHL’s rookie scoring leader Matty Beniers of Seattle, heading into Thursday’s action.
“I touched base with him today, ‘How did you feel?’ and I told him that he’s not going to see the third set of D,” Eakins said. “You’re not going to see the other team’s third or fourth line. You’re going to see those top guys now.
“For now, I do want to leave it for as long as we can. As other players come back, will it affect it? I’m not sure. (Isac) Lundestrom should be back in a few weeks. Who knows about (Derek Grant). Those are two guys that can play center. Will that affect him? I don’t know.”
McTavish is frequently one of the last players off the ice at practice. On Thursday, he was the last one. Those things don’t escape the notice of the coaching staff.
“There’s always a big conversation about what comes first – does the player play well and then he gets more ice time or does he get more ice time and then he plays well? I like the adage: It’s just not how you play, it’s how you go about your day too,” said Eakins, adding that McTavish was the “template on how to earn more ice time.”
Ice chips
The Ducks made a small roster move, sending defenseman Nathan Beaulieu to AHL San Diego on a conditioning loan. Beaulieu has three assists and is minus-12 in 22 games with the Ducks. They made a similar assignment recently with defenseman Colton White.
“It’s good for everybody,” Eakins said. “(Beaulieu) gets to go down. He gets to play a lot of minutes. It keeps him fresh and ready for up here. With his character, he’s going to have a really positive effect on the whole team, not just the D.
“And then for our team here – when he comes back, he’s ready to play if we need him. He hasn’t been sitting up in the stands. I think it’s a really good call, not only for (him) but for the Gulls and our team here.”
It is another move designed to give the Gulls more experience on the back end. The organization acquired veteran defenseman Michael Del Zotto just before the holiday trade freeze, in what was a three-team deal with Detroit and Florida.
With the Gulls, Del Zotto has three points (two goals, one assist) in five games.
“From what I’m hearing, he’s doing excellent,” Eakins said. “He’s had a positive influence on the group. We need some real veteran leadership and guys that know how to handle some adversity there.”
San Jose at Ducks
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Honda Center
TV: ESPN+, Hulu