Domination of Weak Club Seen as a Good Sign

Up one week, down the next.

That’s been the Ducks’ method of operation so far this season, which helps to explain their lackluster 14-13-4-1 record.

“We’ve got to keep picking up winning habits,” captain Paul Kariya said. “In the NHL, you earn everything you get. No one comes out of the blue to win Stanley Cups.

“We’re a long way from being a Stanley Cup team. We’re going in the right direction, but it’s going to take time.”

One good sign for the Ducks is that they finally hammered a weaker team when they dispatched the expansion Atlanta Thrashers, 4-1, Sunday.

“I think it’s the first time we’ve played solid throughout the game against a team below us in the standings,” said backup goalie Dominic Roussel, who made 27 saves Sunday.

The Ducks have lost twice this season to the Montreal Canadiens and once to the Tampa Bay Lightning, teams no one will confuse with Stanley Cup contenders.

“The atmosphere is flat, the other teams are playing a style that’s not very exciting and all of a sudden the game is over,” Roussel said, referring to the games against Montreal and Tampa Bay. “We got emotionally ready for [Sunday’s game]. We wanted it more than they did.”

Added right wing Teemu Selanne, “We have to stay focused. When we play our best, we can beat anyone. At the same time, when we’re not playing our best, any team can beat us.”

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Selanne went six games without a goal, then scored two easy tap-ins Sunday against Atlanta.

“The game before, against Colorado, I should have easily had three goals,” Selanne said. “[Scoring goals] is just magic. You can’t figure it out.”