What we learned from the Ducks’ 2-1 overtime loss to the Blues

There were times when the Ducks looked like they had no business getting any points out of Sunday’s game. There were also times when they showed the mettle necessary to get through a tough part of their schedule against a punishing team.

The dog days of the season are here, along with some observations after a 2-1 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues at Honda Center.

Here’s what we learned:

The Ducks’ power play is in a rut

The Ducks’ goal came on a delayed penalty, and it might have been a good thing that Anaheim didn’t get that power play, judging how their three attempts went. They managed just two shots on a four-minute advantage in the opening period and barely got set up on their third try because of numerous missed passes.

The Ducks are one for 22 on the power play in January.

John Gibson is in a groove

Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle probably would have been justified if he went back to goalie Jonathan Bernier after he got his first shutout with Anaheim on Saturday.

But Carlyle has made it clear that John Gibson is his No.1 goalie, and Gibson continued his recent run, giving up two or fewer goals in six consecutive starts. He dueled St. Louis goalie Carter Hutton and put the Ducks in a position to at least secure a point.

“He’s transitioning into an everyday goaltender,” Carlyle said. “He’s gotten an opportunity here to play for us and he’s played very well.”

Carlyle noted the quality work that Bernier but said “Gibby has been our guy over the last little while.”

Ducks-Blues games haven’t changed

These teams have developed an animosity for each other the last few seasons and Sunday wasn’t any different.

Heavyweights Ryan Reaves and Jared Boll kicked it off with a fight. Blues forward Patrik Berglund got his stick under the skate of Ducks defenseman Korbinian Holzer to send him tumbling into the corner boards and trigger a scrum, one of several.

There were a combined 70 hits.

“It was kind of an old-school game in sorts,” defenseman Kevin Bieksa said. “A lot of confrontations, a lot of battles, a lot of wall work. A lot of hitting. A lot of chipping. Stick work. We’re good in those games. I thought we played well. It came down to overtime again, and obviously we know what happened.”