Ducks Fall When They Give Second Chance

Coach Pierre Page has spent the season searching for answers. What to do without Paul Kariya? How best to survive a youth movement? How to get the most out of the least?

Here’s a new question: Why do the Mighty Ducks play so poorly in the second period?

Nothing popped immediately into Page’s mind after the Ducks’ 6-3 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes before an announced sellout crowd of 16,210 Friday at America West Arena.

“I don’t know,” Page said. “We’ve tried all kinds of stuff.”

The Coyotes, fighting to make the playoffs, won their second game in three nights against the Ducks by dominating the second period.

It’s nothing new.

Friday was simply the Ducks’ latest lackluster second period in a season filled with them. Phoenix scored twice, outshot the Ducks, 21-6, in the second period alone and turned a tight game into a blowout to take the season series, three games to one.

Wednesday at the Arrowhead Pond, the Ducks gave up a franchise record-tying five goals in the second period en route to a 5-1 loss.

After 75 games, the Ducks have been outscored, 93-66, and outshot, 811-661, in the second periods alone.

“I don’t know what to say,” Page said. “This was a big game for us. I thought we competed hard. There were some things I liked and some things I didn’t like.”

Asked what he liked, Page laughed and said, “Tkachuk.”

That would be Phoenix captain Keith Tkachuk, who recorded his third three-goal game this season and the seventh of his career. He also had two assists for the third five-point game of his career.

“I thought he was the best player on the ice,” Page said.

It was difficult to notice Duck captain Teemu Selanne, a rarity in an MVP-caliber season. Selanne had only one shot and picked up an assist. He was scoreless with three shots Wednesday.

“We know he is the key for their team,” said Phoenix defenseman Teppo Numminen, Selanne’s roommate on the road when they played together in Winnipeg. “All five guys on the ice have to know where he is at all times. The closest guy goes to him. That was our game plan.”

Said Selanne, who signed a two-year, $19.5-million contract extension Thursday: “It’s hard to be positive right now. It’s pretty frustrating.”

Phoenix scored four of the ugliest goals you’re likely to see in one game to take a 4-2 lead by the end of the second period.

“When you work hard you get lucky, I guess,” Page said.

Tkachuk scored the first of his three goals by swatting the puck out of midair and past Mikhail Shtalenkov only 6:41 into the game.

Dallas Drake was credited with the Coyotes’ second goal, scoring at 19:43 of the first period when his centering pass struck a skate and trickled past a surprised Shtalenkov.

Next, Numminen poked in a rebound during a goal-mouth scramble at 15:12 of the second period to give Phoenix the lead for good at 3-2.

Rick Tocchet was clearly in the crease when Numminen scored, but referee Don Koharski immediately ruled that he had been pushed there by Duck defenseman Jamie Pushor.

Tkachuk added the back-breaking goal at 17:45 of the second, somehow deflecting Numminen’s shot from the blue line past Shtalenkov.

Playing despite a rib injury that kept him out of nine games recently, Tkachuk completed his hat trick with an end-to-end rush that gave Phoenix a 5-2 lead 7:43 into the third period.

“He didn’t have to battle too hard,” Page said of Tkachuk. “We didn’t hit him. We’ve got 10 of 12 forwards who try to be Mr. Nice Guy out there. [Five-foot-eight Cliff] Ronning was hitting harder than 10 of our 12 forwards. What does that say?”

Centers Steve Rucchin, who scored his 15th and 16th goals, and Josef Marha had the Ducks’ goals. All three goals came on power plays.

Rucchin’s second goal came with Shtalenkov on the bench in favor of a sixth attacker with 2:17 to play.