Third-Period Collapse Offers Crucial Lessons

The Mighty Ducks are 7-0-1 in their last eight games, but there was no shortage of lessons to be learned after squandering a three-goal third-period lead in a 4-4 tie Wednesday against the Vancouver Canucks.

“We had complete control of the game,” Coach Craig Hartsburg said. “All we had to do was bear down [in the third period]. We did a lot of good things. Our power play was good. [But] in the third period, we tried to cheat. Give Vancouver full marks. They deserved to get a tie. We’ve got to stay committed and focused on the team things.”

Keeping the puck out of the middle of the ice while in their zone has been a Duck trademark this season. But poor clearing passes up the middle by Fredrik Olausson and Paul Kariya led to Vancouver goals.

“It was a poor period by us,” Hartsburg said. “But it’s one game. We move on and get back to work [tonight against Dallas].”

*

It was all but lost in the wake of the Ducks’ third-period collapse Wednesday, but Olausson’s 47th point broke the franchise record for points by a defenseman in a season.

Dmitri Mironov had 46 points for the Ducks in 1996-97.

TONIGHT

at Dallas, 5:30 PST

Fox Sports West 2

* Site--Reunion Arena.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 30-25-10, Stars 41-12-10.

* Record vs. Stars--0-2-1.

* Update--Teemu Selanne needs a goal or an assist to tie Philadelphia’s Eric Lindros for the league’s longest point streak this season. A goal Wednesday extended Selanne’s franchise-record streak to 17 games. Tonight figures to be another huge test for the Ducks, who passed one Sunday by defeating the Detroit Red Wings, 3-1, but failed another Wednesday. Dallas is perhaps the only NHL team as hot as the Ducks, going 11-1-2 in the last 14 games. The Stars, who lead the NHL with 92 points, routed the Edmonton Oilers, 7-4, Wednesday at Dallas. Reunion Arena has been a chamber of horrors over the years for the Ducks, whose 3-3 tie Oct. 30 at Dallas ended a nine-game losing streak there. Dallas leads the all-time series, 17-6-1.