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Ducks headed on death march?

February 18th, 2009, 10:58 pm · 4 Comments · posted by Dan Wood, Staff writer

ANAHEIM — On the heels of Wednesday night’s potentially devastating 4-3 loss to the Kings at Honda Center, the Ducks are set to embark on a daunting six-game road swing that has all the earmarks of a death march.

In ninth place in the NHL’s Western Conference but also behind two other teams, including the Kings, in terms of winning percentage, the Ducks have seen their Stanley Cup playoff hopes take a severe beating of late.

“I think what we have to do is realize we have an opportunity and a challenge in front of us,” captain Scott Niedermayer said. “You can forget everything, what the plan was back in September. We just have to deal with what’s in front of us.”

Certainly, upon reporting to training camp, the Ducks (28-26-5) didn’t expect to be in such precarious position entering the season’s final 23 games. By the time they complete the next six, on a junket that begins Friday against the Detroit Red Wings and concludes March 3 against the Chicago Blackhawks, the Ducks could look markedly different.

“We’re in a situation where if we don’t get points, it’s a grim outlook,” Coach Randy Carlyle said.

With the NHL trade deadline looming March 4, it is by no means a stretch to think a number of Ducks might have played their final home game at Honda Center. Having seen the club go from Stanley Cup champions to potentially missing the post-season in only two years, General Manager Bob Murray is undoubtedly considering dramatic personnel moves in an effort to re-tool the team sooner rather than later.

“That’s really not up to us,” Niedermayer said. “Our job is to go out there and compete and focus on being a good hockey club here, and I think that’s what we’ll do. So I don’t expect anything.”

Neither did Niedermayer expect to be confined in the penalty box when Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar scored third-period, power-play goals to lift the Kings (25-22-9) to victory.

After power-play conversions from Teemu Selanne and Ryan Getzlaf had enabled the Ducks to erase a 2-0 deficit, Niedermayer took a penalty for slashing Kings center Michal Handzus at 9:23. Brown put the Kings in front 12 seconds later, re-directing defenseman Kyle Quincey’s point shot.

After being stopped by Kings rookie goaltender Jonathan Quick on a breakaway nearly four minutes later, Niedermayer saw his brother, Ducks right wing Rob Niedermayer, take a cross-checking penalty at 13:37. Only 11 seconds later, Scott Niedermayer collided with Quick behind the net, drawing both charging and roughing calls.

With the Ducks down two men, Kopitar capped a pretty three-way passing play that also featured Brown and Jarret Stoll to put the Kings on top 4-2 at 15:23.

“I was going down with quite a bit of speed,” Scott Niedermayer said. “The puck was going behind the net. I don’t think I really ran him (Quick) over. I don’t know if our feet collided or what happened exactly. It was a stupid play. It wasn’t my intent. It happened. I guess one thing I am disappointed about is getting the roughing call. I’m pretty sure I didn’t touch anybody after it happened.”

Chris Kunitz scored for the Ducks at 16:20, but Quick repelled three more Ducks shots to finish with 28 saves.

THREE STARS

1. JARRET STOLL: Veteran center opened the scoring and assisted on both Kings third-period, power-play goals
2. ANZE KOPITAR: Top-line Kings center set up one goal and scored the game-winner
3. RYAN GETZLAF: Ducks center was in on three goals, scoring one and setting up two

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 4 Comments

  • dukfan1 says:
    February 19, 2009 at 9:30 am

    Once again the ducks can’t stay out of the box and choke!!They should already know that the refs will NEVER give us a break going into every game and they still make bonehead plays. Its pretty hard to stay behind this team when its obvious they aren’t learning from their mistakes. Maybe Carlyle should just start fining players for bonehead penalties. Giguere is a joke in the net! Time to get ride of dead weight-Rob Niedermayer,Moen,Morrison, and anyone else who doesn’t want to pay the price to win games, including Pronger and Scott Niedermayer. Bob Murray better figure something out or the Ducks season will be done by the end of this upcoming road trip.

  • Reality says:
    February 19, 2009 at 9:33 am

    The implosion of the Ducks has begun.

  • JohnP says:
    February 19, 2009 at 10:40 am

    …it’s not the loss the Kings that hurts…it’s how they’ve been playing. Veterans got them to the Cup now it’s time to shave off tired players (and salaries) and support the youth like the Blackhawks have done. The scoring core has playoff and Cup experience at a young age. Build your team around them to be the young ‘veterans.’ I think Carlyle still has the ability to influence the younger players but the older ones obviously are NOT listening. Some might see him as hurting Ryan but in retrospect, without the anger of where they are in the standings now, Carlyle has helped Ryan refine skills, learn to play with passion, and ultimately shine. I said ‘helped,’ Ryan obviously had the skills necessary to do this. DEAL WITH THE CAP!!! The trick NOW is not to let him get away cuz other teams are going to throw some serious $$$ at him…remember Penner (though it’s satisfying that he’s been in the middle of issues in Edmonton).

  • JohnP says:
    February 19, 2009 at 10:42 am

    …it’s not the loss the Kings that hurts…it’s how they’ve been playing. Veterans got them to the Cup now it’s time to shave off tired players (and salaries) and support the youth like the Blackhawks have done. The scoring core has playoff and Cup experience at a young age. Build your team around them to be the young ‘veterans.’ I think Carlyle still has the ability to influence the younger players but the older ones obviously are NOT listening. Some might see him as hurting Ryan but in retrospect, without the anger of where they are in the standings now, Carlyle has helped Ryan refine skills, learn to play with passion, and ultimately shine. I said ‘helped,’ Ryan obviously had the skills necessary to do this. DEAL WITH THE CAP!!! The trick NOW is not to let him get away cuz other teams are going to throw some serious $$$ at him…remember Penner (though it’s satisfying that he’s been in the middle of issues in Edmonton). It’s hard to accept a rebuilding year or two but that’s how it HAS to go sometimes.