Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle says his club needs to show more commitment, accountability and consistency

One of the bullet points that repeatedly surfaced upon the return of Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle was accountability. The Ducks were known for wild swings under former coach Bruce Boudreau, and Carlyle was brought in to make them respond to their lapses.

So, after 11 games …

“This is time,” Carlyle said. “It’s time for things to come to the front and center. We’ve got to be a more committed hockey club to the structure that we’re trying to create for our group. And when that goes awry, you’re not going to have chances of having success because we’re not playing as a team. We’re playing as individuals.”

Anaheim has twice followed great games with clunkers. The latest was a 5-1 thumping by the Pittsburgh Penguins, after a win against the Kings. Last month the Ducks were no-shows against Columbus after a win against Nashville.

Those disconcerting losses have been in their building by an aggregate score of 9-1. Poor neutral zone play is partly to blame, but they’re also a work in progress.

“It’s just a team still trying to find our identity a little bit, trying to plug some different guys in and see what kind of chemistry we can find,” Cam Fowler said.

The emphasis falls on the veterans, and the Ducks are closer to getting perhaps their most important one back. Injured captain Ryan Getzlaf is expected to skate Friday morning, and so is linemate Nick Ritchie, recovering from an illegal hit by the Kings’ Tom Gilbert (suspended three games).

Another good sign is that goaltender Jonathan Bernier is healthy and could ease John Gibson’s workload. Gibson has started eight of the past nine games while Bernier has made only three appearances. It’s an adjustment for the former Kings backup and Toronto Maple Leafs starter.

“For me now, it’s probably a bit tougher just because [I was] No.1 for three years in Toronto and I played most of the games and then you come here and I haven’t seen a lot of action,” Bernier said about being the backup. “But I think I’m used to being in that role. I’ve been in both. It’s just a mind-set that you’ve got make sure that you’re always prepared.”

Defensemen moves

Shea Theodore was assigned to the San Diego Gulls and is expected to play Friday in Stockton. Theodore has taken some steps back with his defense after a strong start.

“It looked like his confidence was starting to get rattled as far as slapping pucks away and not controlling the puck,” Carlyle said. “That’s not the type of player he is.”

Jacob Larsson, who won a job over Theodore in training camp, was returned to his Swedish club. It was a contractual obligation if Larsson, 19, didn’t play with the Ducks.

Etc.

Ondrej Kase was still walking on air from his NHL debut, especially sweet given he missed 42 games in the minors last season with an upper-body injury. Kase said his parents were watching from his home in the Czech Republic.

“My mom [Kamila] cried,” he said.

Forward Mason Raymond was released from his contract after he did not report to San Diego for family reasons.

NEXT UP

DUCKS VS. ARIZONA COYOTES

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: Honda Center.

On the air: TV: Fox Sports West; Radio: 830.

Update: The last-place Coyotes are nursing injuries to goalie Mike Smith, defenseman Michael Stone and forwards Martin Hanzal and Tobias Rieder.