Ducks Show Nothing Special in 3-1 Loss to Flames

The Calgary Flames play an unattractive defensive style of hockey because their roster is stocked with youngsters and has-beens.

It’s difficult to figure out what the Mighty Ducks’ excuse was during a 3-1 loss Wednesday to the Flames at the Canadian Airlines Saddledome.

The Ducks accomplished little in the first period, surrendered an early goal, then failed to rally despite sustained pressure in the second and third periods.

Now, the Ducks face a two-game losing streak going into the final game of this four-game trip Friday against the Stars at Dallas.

New Year’s Eve in Dallas?

Gee, think the Stars will be fired up to deliver a payback to the Ducks? Think Brett Hull will be chomping at the bit to score his 600th NHL goal?

The way things have gone for the Ducks in the last two games, it would seem like a mortal lock on both counts.

Monday, the Ducks roared out to a 1-0 lead with a standout first period against the Edmonton Oilers. But they collapsed in the final 40 minutes and lost, 4-1.

Wednesday, the Ducks trailed, 1-0, after a first period Coach Craig Hartsburg called “so-so.” They found some life in the second and third, but failed to score more than one goal for the third consecutive game.

Remarkably, the Ducks are only 1-2, having defeated the San Jose Sharks, 1-0, Sunday.

“We had 33 shots, so we did something right,” right wing Teemu Selanne said. “If we have 33 shots, we should have more goals, though.”

The Ducks might have scored more, but their power play failed them again. They had six chances with the man advantage and got nothing past goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere, making his first start of the season.

The Ducks’ penalty-killing unit was no bargain either, giving up power-play goals to Jeff Shantz and Jarome Iginla. Clarke Wilm added a short-handed empty-net goal in the final minute.

Ted Donato, subbing for injured center Steve Rucchin on the top line, scored to give the Ducks a brief 1-1 tie at 9:14 of the second period.

But Iginla pounced on a long rebound in the slot and beat Guy Hebert for the go-ahead goal for Calgary at 15:29 of the second.

“We knew special teams were going to be so important,” Selanne said. “[Calgary] did a good job and we didn’t.”

The Ducks haven’t scored a power-play goal in three games, going 0 for 12. They are 16 for 134 this season with the man advantage, an 11.9% success rate.

“Right now, it’s a frustrating time for us,” said Selanne, who did not have a shot on net. “We’ve got to try to stay positive and believe, believe, believe.”

The simple solution--and darned obvious, too--is scoring more goals, according to Selanne, who is off his league-leading pace of 47 goals last season.

“The last three games, we’ve scored one goal in each, right,” said Selanne, who has 15 this season. “We can’t win that way. We have to score more. When you get the chance, you have to bury it.”

Selanne then blamed himself for the Ducks’ sputtering offense. “I have to raise the level of my game,” he said. “I know I can do it. I have to find a way.”

With Rucchin out for an undetermined time because of an ankle injury, the scoring burden falls more heavily on Selanne.

Rucchin, who left the team Wednesday and will be examined by doctors today in Anaheim, was hurt after taking a shot off the left ankle near the end of the first period Monday. His ankle swelled after he finished the game.

“Some guys haven’t yet played their best,” Hartsburg said. “I thought Paul [Kariya], Teddy Donato and Marty McInnis did a great job tonight. With Rucchin out, other guys are going to have to step up.”

All things considered, Hartsburg wasn’t disappointed by the Ducks’ play Wednesday, particularly in the final two periods.

“The team played well enough to get more than what they got,” he said. “We’ve got to play [well] for 60 minutes. That’s the difference.”