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Miscommunication has Ducks seeing Stars
October 22nd, 2009, 10:30 am · 9 Comments · posted by Curtis Zupke, Staff writer
I got it … No, you got it! 
That old refrain is appropriate for baseball in the summer.
But this is hockey in October, and it could accurately describe the miscommunication behind by net by the Ducks that led to Dallas’ second goal on Wednesday night.
Goaltender Jonas Hiller and defenseman Scott Niedermayer were near the puck behind the net when one assumed the other would retrieve it.
Their hesitation resulted in a takeaway byDallas center Mike Ribeiro, who backhanded the puck to Brenden Morrow for an easy goal and 2-0 lead.
“That kind of stuff shouldn’t happen,” Hiller said. “I thought ‘He’s going to get it.’Â He kind thought ‘I’ll put it back on his stick.’ Â Miscommunication. It happens.”
Coach Randy Carlyle said it shouldn’t.
“I hadn’t talked to anybody other than we have a goalie call,” Carlyle said. “To either leave the puck or play it over. The disturbing part of that is we had a defenseman go stand beside the other defenseman waiting for the puck and our goalie turned it over or they stole it from our goalie. There was nobody within 10 feet of Morrow and he had an empty net.”
That wasn’t the only disconcerting play for Hiller and the Ducks, at least through two periods of the 4-2 loss.
“It’s probably not just that time,” Hiller said. “It also happens in our defensive zone when we lose our guys or focus on just one guy and missing this guy. I think we’ve got to come up more and get our legs sharp and ready to start and not wait until somebody steps up. Everybody’s got to be ready from the first second.”
Blown defensive coverages and passes not connecting were rampant with the Ducks as they were outshot, 27-12, through the first 40 minutes.
The Ducks were still at a loss to explain their slow starts. They have been outscored, 7-2, in the first period this season.
“I wish I could tell you,” Hiller said. “I think we need to keep things simple. We have to work harder and not just let it come to us. We have to be active.”
The only bright side to Wednesday was their dominating third period, but even that won’t give the Ducks a good night’s rest.
“That’s not enough,” Hiller said. “We’ve got to come out like that from the beginning. Especially in our building and get some emotions going.”
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I think the miscommunication of “I got it” “you got it” is just another example of this team’s chemistry not coming together right now.
Hopefully that will change here quickly.
I think it showed on the road trip that we were coming together, but as soon as we got home we seemed to loose that “togetherness” that we showed against Philadelphia and Boston. I think a few good verbal lashings from Carlyle and some good practice sessions and we’ll be back to the Ducks we all know and love.
Hello folks, Just checked in with Dux Arm Chair GM. He says -Well, something needs to change. Now. Ain’t interested in yet another garden variety slow start to season -pick things up past mid season point -cross our fingers n pray n squeak into playoffs -win a couple of games then eliminated first or second round . . . and do it over again come September 2010 with subtle & painful increase in ticket prices. There’s no structure to our game -coaching problem. Veteran’s not making an impact -leadership problem.
I was at the game and you only started to see them MOVE and SKATE with purpose at the start of the third period. Did it continue through the period? I can’t say that it did.
I say minimal effort… let’s face it. This is not a team wanting to go to the play offs. Those teams that will make it are pulling ahead (see the experts choice for 15th in the west, the Avs).
I hope they start showing up to play within the next couple of games, or I might find myself doing some selling on StubHub. We stink at home and the play is just so poor.
The only one out there earning their wages is Wiz, Hiller, and Mikkelson… somewhat.
I hope our team wakes up and smells the coffee! Because it really looks like they could use some out there.
Maybe the problem is guaranteed contracts.
It looks like they want Carlyle fired, and will continue to play this half-hearted effort until it (Carlyle gone) finally comes to pass. Something needs to happen….because The Ducks lost to a badly depleted Stars team a game after giving the Blues their first win on North American soil this season….by 5-0 to boot. Smells fishy to me.
Nothing was clicking. During the last two games the opposing teams had so much room to pass and open lines to shoot, it was unbelievable. Our defensive system had too many holes, and forwards seemed to be unable to read each other. I blame both players and the coach. We were clearly outplayed and out-coached against the Blues and against the Stars too.
I was there vs Dallas and had to apologize to some kids in my row after screaming SKATE MOTHER^%%er’s SKATE!!! It was frustrating even in the third when we had chances but it seemed like they were unaware one goal would have tied it…