Bleak Outlook Is All Chicago’s

Today, all is well with the Mighty Ducks. Wednesday, they were in serious trouble.

It’s remarkable what one victory over a struggling team headed nowhere could do for them.

But the Ducks’ 3-0 victory Wednesday over the Chicago Blackhawks had the desired impact on the team’s confidence, giving it some much-needed momentum for a two-game trip to Tampa Bay and St. Louis.

“It’s a tough, tight league right now,” Coach Craig Hartsburg said. “You’ve got to take care of yourselves. You can’t worry about what other teams are doing. You’ve got to play with desperation and hunger, and I thought we did that [against Chicago].”

TONIGHT

at Tampa Bay, 4 PST

Fox Sports West 2

* Site--Ice Palace.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 18-22-9, Lightning 11-35-4.

* Record vs. Lightning--1-0.

* Update--The Ducks, 2-6-1 in their last nine games, look like Stanley Cup champions when compared to the sad-sack Lightning. Tampa Bay, last in the NHL with 26 points, was stomped, 10-1, by the Washington Capitals on Wednesday. The Lightning lost to the New York Rangers, 10-2, Nov. 10. Expect to see center Matt Cullen playing on the Ducks’ first line again tonight.