Ducks’ Isac Lundestrom filling a key role as third-line center

PITTSBURGH — At archetypal glance, and possibly astatine the 2nd and 3rd glances, too, the examination is unfair. After all, Samuel Pahlsson was a Stanley Cup victor with the Ducks successful 2006-07, a campaigner for the Conn Smythe Trophy won by teammate Scott Niedermayer, and a captious portion to the puzzle.

Isac Lundestrom’s vocation is conscionable getting started, but determination are indications helium mightiness someday play the aforesaid benignant of versatile relation Pahlsson erstwhile did for the Ducks. Lundestrom has filled the third-line center’s relation that Pahlsson did to large effect much than a decennary ago.

Lundestrom, 22, plays the aforesaid presumption with the aforesaid benignant of important and yet subtle crippled his Swedish countryman did, with an accent connected the aspects that don’t needfully leap retired to the casual viewer. He’s a beardown punishment slayer and defender who tin people present and then.

“I ever look backmost astatine Stanley Cup finals, and if you look astatine the squad that won, it’s usually that third-line halfway who was the astir important guy,” Ducks manager Dallas Eakisn said. “Not lone did helium bash a hellhole of a occupation checking, but helium usually scores large goals. Those guys are truthful important, particularly erstwhile you get to the end.”

Lundestrom, the Ducks’ first-round draught prime successful 2018 (23rd overall), scored his seventh extremity of the play during their shootout triumph Thursday implicit the Columbus Blue Jackets. He besides has 8 assists successful 28 games, making him the Ducks’ seventh-leading scorer.

“He’s softly been truly good,” Eakins said. “He’s scoring a small bit. He’s a positive player. He’s retired against pugnacious competition. It’s not similar he’s retired determination fumbling astir against the different team’s 4th line. He’s retired determination against the different team’s best. It’s been vital, particularly with guys going retired of the lineup.”

PROSPECT WATCH

Center Mason McTavish, the 3rd wide prime successful the NHL draught successful July, and defenseman Olen Zellweger, the 34th selection, joined Canada’s inferior squad enactment campy Thursday successful Calgary successful mentation for the World Junior Championships aboriginal this period successful Edmonton and Red Deer.

Zellweger was scheduled to play successful an accumulation crippled against a squad of Canadian collegiate players Saturday. McTavish was expected to play successful the 2nd of 2 exhibitions earlier the team’s roster is finalized, past play successful the tourney begins Dec. 26 against the Czech Republic.

McTavish scored 5 goals successful 4 games aft the Ducks returned him to his inferior team, the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League. Zellweger has 7 goals and 20 assists successful 22 games with Everett (Washington) of the Western Hockey League.

Ian Moore, a defenseman from Harvard who was the Ducks’ third-round prime successful 2020, and Sasha Pastujov, a close helping for Guelph of the OHL who was their third-round prime successful July, are connected Team USA’s preliminary roster. The Americans’ opening crippled is Dec. 26 against Slovakia.

Moore has 3 assists successful 11 games this play with Harvard. Pastujov has 19 goals and 15 assists successful 24 games with Guelph, starring his squad successful some categories. Pastujov was 3rd successful the OHL successful goals and ninth successful the league with 34 points going into this weekend’s games.