Yake Taking Some Heat This Time : Hockey: Wilson not impressed with play of Ducks’ leading scorer last season. Bruins win exhibition game, 3-2.

How much have things changed for the Mighty Ducks? Could last year’s leading scorer really be this year’s fifth right wing?

Terry Yake had 21 goals and 31 assists to lead the Ducks in scoring in Year 1, edging Bob Corkum by one point. But with Paul Kariya, Valeri Karpov and Co. dominating the exhibition season, Yake has slid into the background, and he did little to prove his worth in the Ducks’ 3-2 exhibition loss to Boston in front of 16,368 at The Pond.

“He’s got to get himself going because other people are playing a lot better than he is,” Coach Ron Wilson said. “I wouldn’t say he’s in trouble (to make the team). He is in trouble of being the fifth right wing. If that’s what he wants, fine.”

The particulars might be news to Yake, but the general sentiment is not.

“I’m playing like horse . . .” he said. “There’s no question about it.”

He is a classic slow starter, his groin bothered him early in camp, he really hasn’t had much ice time yet, and he has to admit it, this lockout threat is hanging over his head.

“It’s not panic time, but there’s no question I’ve got a long ways to go before I’m in midseason form,” he said.

He’s not the only veteran forward clawing for position. With the addition of Kariya and Karpov and John Lilley just about to lock up a spot, the Ducks are overstocked with forwards. At right wing, Yake has to contend with Karpov, Lilley, Joe Sacco and Todd Ewen.

“I haven’t gained my confidence. I’m generally a slow starter,” he said. “I’m not worried. I just have a lot of work to do.”

The Ducks had a 2-0 lead--against a Boston lineup that didn’t include Cam Neely, Adam Oates or Ray Bourque--after first-period goals by Karpov and Corkum.

But the Bruins scored the next three goals, including two in the third period, and John Gruden beat Mikhail Shtalenkov on a screened shot at 18:32 of the third.

Wilson found fault with his team’s defensive attentiveness, calling the comeback “a couple of cheesy goals because we were trying to be too cute.”

The Ducks, who play Boston (3-2) at San Diego tonight, fell to 1-3-1.

Notes

The Pond lights blacked out with 3:12 left in the first period, halting the action. The teams left the ice early for the first intermission, tacking the extra minutes onto the second period. Club officials linked the blackout to a sudden dip in power from Southern California Edison.