Corkum Rips Teammates After Loss

Bob Corkum refused to hold back after the Mighty Ducks’ embarrassing 7-1 loss to the Kings Wednesday at the Forum.

Standing in the middle of a downcast dressing room, Corkum scanned the final stat sheet but couldn’t find a column measuring heart. Or lack thereof.

“We’ve got a lot of guys who might have made it too easily to the NHL,” said Corkum, the Ducks’ assistant captain and their second-leading scorer in their first season. “They think they’ve made it to Anaheim and no matter what happens they’re going to stay.

“Playing in the NHL is a privilege. I think we’re taking it for granted. There are a lot of guys in the minors and elsewhere who are just dying to get here.”

Corkum didn’t name names, but the implication was clear: High-priced young talent such as Paul Kariya and Oleg Tverdovsky shouldn’t be above doing a bit more grinding in the corners.

After all, the Ducks made their name on grit not flash. What gives?

“I don’t know,” Corkum said. “I don’t have an answer. I don’t think everyone’s coming to play every night. We need a 20-man effort and we’re not getting it.”

With the Christmas trading freeze over at midnight Wednesday, Corkum said he believed changes could be swift in coming. Coach Ron Wilson was more direct.

“If anything, this little streak is showing us where we need to improve within the organization,” Wilson said. “At the moment, we have a lot of guys who deserve to sit in the press box, but I can’t because of all the injuries we’ve had.”

Winger Valeri Karpov returned to the lineup after missing 29 games with a broken right wrist. And Steve Rucchin and Shaun Van Allen, the Ducks’ top two centers, are expected back from injuries within the next 10 days.

“It’s going to be a godsend,” Wilson said. “At least they know what they’re doing in their own end.”

After a restful Christmas break, the Ducks continued their pratfall toward the bottom of the Pacific Division. Twenty-nine seconds into the game, the Ducks took their first dumb penalty. Twenty minutes into the game, the Ducks trailed, 2-0, and had been outshot, 23-10.

Wednesday’s loss pushed the Ducks’ losing streak to five games, one short of the franchise record set in October, 1993. Plus, they’re winless in all but two of their past 16, dating to Nov. 21.