Ducks are searching for elusive back-to-back victories

For the Ducks, Wednesday represents the fourth time in the last two weeks that they will try to win back-to-back games, a feat they haven’t achieved since a four-game winning streak Nov.1-7.

The Ducks are coming off perhaps their most complete game of the season, Monday against Vancouver.

“We’re going to win by the way we played,” Ryan Kesler said about Monday. “We need to keep playing that way.”

Kesler’s declaration that the Ducks would reach the playoffs also could be seen as recognition that the season is no longer young. They are out of a playoff spot after 25 games but haven’t been buried in the Pacific Division.

Asked about the statement, Kesler said that “people are going to skew it any way possible but I believe in this group and I believe in the team and I’m sure if you asked anybody in this locker room, they’d say the same thing.”

Nate Thompson nears season debut

Center Nate Thompson is getting closer to his season debut although the Ducks are cautious about having him play his first NHL game since May, when he played with two tears in a shoulder.

Coach Bruce Boudreau tends to fulfill story lines, and it would be fitting if Thompson returned against his former team. If he doesn’t play Wednesday he likely would play Friday.

Goalie Frederik Andersen is not available yet in his recovery from flu. Backup John Gibson is coming off a shutout and has a 1.82 goals-against average and .936 save percentage in four games since he was recalled.

Nick Ritchie is adapting

Nick Ritchie is normally a scorer, a power forward at 6 feet 2 and 232-pounds. But Boudreau has had him in a checking role with Kesler and Jakob Silfverberg and said the rookie has adapted.

“He’s finishing his checks all the time,” Boudreau said. “I think he’s defensively responsible. He has the odd mistake here and there. But I think he’s done a really good job for a 19-year-old kid.”

Ritchie, the 10th pick of the 2014 draft, turns 20 on Saturday.

NEXT UP

DUCKS VS. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

When: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. PST

On the air: TV: FS West; Radio: 830

Update: The Ducks lost to Tampa Bay, 5-0, in the finale of a four-game trip Nov.21. Steven Stamkos scored twice and has seven goals and 12 points in seven games against Anaheim. The Lightning has outscored the Ducks, 14-4, over the last three meetings. Ryan Getzlaf has 14 assists in 13 games since he returned from an appendectomy. The Ducks reassigned defenseman Shea Theodore.

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