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Defense, goaltending are tops on to-do list

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Times Staff Writer

The Ducks have won only six of 17 games this season and were outscored, 11-5, over their last two games.

Time to panic? Not exactly, according to the Ducks, who will play Pacific Division rival San Jose tonight at the Honda Center.

“At different moments we’ve played pretty strong, but with us it is about putting good games together more than putting good shifts together,” center Andy McDonald said of the Ducks’ lack of consistency this season.

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Added forward Travis Moen: “We’re looking to put two or three games together because as of late, we’ve struggled a little bit. We have to play better in our own end.”

Playing tighter defense and getting better goaltending have become issues for the Ducks after Wednesday’s 6-5 overtime loss to Phoenix and Monday’s 5-0 loss to Dallas.

Coach Randy Carlyle, who removed his starting goaltender during both of the last two games, said defense is just one area that needs improvement.

“Our goaltending has been in line with the rest of our team,” Carlyle said. “There are areas that they can improve on. They have to be better just like our whole team has to be better.”

The Ducks have allowed 49 goals, which tied them with Calgary for second worst in the Western Conference as of Thursday. Edmonton is at the bottom, having allowed 55.

“We know what to do. We just have to go out and do it,” Moen said. “Being strong defensively, that’s always been a key for us. . . . Teams are playing hard against us, we have to match their work ethic.”

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Carlyle on the Sharks, who have lost four of their last six games: “I haven’t really had time to focus on anybody else other than us. But we understand that we’re playing a hockey club that has a tremendous amount of skill and size and can skate. They play a real strong brand of up-tempo hockey and we will have to play our best game of the year.”

The Ducks placed defenseman Maxim Kondratiev on waivers Thursday. Carlyle said the team was uncertain what it would do if Kondratiev, who has played in only four games this season, is not claimed.

TONIGHT

vs. San Jose, 7, Channel 56

Site -- Honda Center.

Radio -- 830.

Records -- Ducks 6-8-3, Sharks 7-7-1.

Record vs. Sharks (2006-07) -- 5-2-1.

Update -- San Jose was picked by many to reach the Stanley Cup finals this season, but the Sharks have struggled. Joe Thornton leads San Jose with five goals and 16 points, but the Sharks haven’t received much from Jonathan Cheechoo, who has only three goals and six points. San Jose has been outscored, 38-35, this season.

lonnie.white@latimes.com

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