Page Is Singing Blue-Line Blues

Defensive breakdowns continue to hurt the slumping Ducks, who are 4-13-3 and have been outscored, 67-46, in the last 20 games.

“Some of our guys don’t know how to play defense,” Coach Pierre Page said after the Ducks let a two-goal lead slip away in the third period in a 3-2 overtime loss Monday to the Kings. “On the Kings’ first goal, we had two guys playing along the boards when their guy [Ray Ferraro] was in the slot. Our guys have to be better defensively.”

Center Mark Janssens agreed that tighter defense must be a priority if the Ducks are to make a second-half surge.

“It’s not just the defensemen but the forwards too,” he said. “Everyone was guilty [in the loss to the Kings]. We worked so hard to get a 2-0 lead, but we’ve got to take care of the defense first.”

Asked if he could identify the cause of the Ducks’ defensive lapses, goaltender Guy Hebert said: “I wish I knew, otherwise we wouldn’t have this talk every other day.”

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The Ducks’ collapse against the Kings was simply the latest in a series of late-game meltdowns in the last 20 games.

The Ducks led the Buffalo Sabres, 2-1, with less than five minutes to play and lost, 3-2, Jan. 7. They led the Washington Capitals, 2-0, early in the second period, but lost, 3-2, Jan. 1. They led the St. Louis Blues, 5-3, early in the third period, but were tied, 5-5, Dec. 27.

They also led the Calgary Flames, 2-0, in the third period, but lost, 3-2, in overtime Nov. 29.

TONIGHT vs. Colorado

* 7:30

* Fox Sports West 2

Site--Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim.

Radio--KRLA (1110), KCKC (1350).

Records--Ducks 15-24-8, Avalanche 23-9-15.

Record vs. Avalanche (1996-97)--0-2-3.

Update--Colorado ended a three-game winless streak with a 3-1 victory Monday over the Florida Panthers. In the last 20 games, the Ducks have six losses by three goals or more and have been shut out three times. Teemu Selanne needs three goals to reach 250. He recorded his 500th NHL point with an assist Monday against the Kings.

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Tonight--Colorado; Jan. 21--Florida; Jan. 22--at Colorado; Jan. 24--Kings; Jan. 27--at San Jose; Jan. 28--Calgary.

Feb. 1--Chicago; Feb. 4--N.Y. Rangers; Feb. 7--Kings.