Same Sad Song for Hartsburg

The Mighty Ducks, who are either a dead team skating or a work in progress, depending on the eye of the beholder, went through another practice and another team meeting Saturday. Their coach then went through another session trying to explain the demise.

“We do good things each game that prove we can be a good team,” Coach Craig Hartsburg said. “That’s the thing that bothers me the most. We do some good things and then don’t follow through on them.”

Which led to the Hartsburg seasonlong mantra: “We know the solution. We’ve got to be there every night and pay the price for 60 minutes.”

Yet Hartsburg scoffs at the notion this should be learned in training camp, not 63 days into the season.

“That’s just looking at it negatively,” he said. “The only thing I worry about is what we are going to do the next day.”

Still, those who don’t learn from history, are doomed to repeat it. The Ducks missed the playoffs last season and are in a free fall these days, having gone 2-9-3-1 in their last 15 games.

Their general manager overestimated the abilities of key off-season acquisitions; center German Titov is making $4.5 million over the next three years and has three goals and five points in 20 games.

Their coach is left begging for some intestinal fortitude; the words “mental toughness” were tossed out Saturday.

The players themselves make mental mistakes in key moments, such as turning the puck over in their own end as they blew a 2-0 third-period lead in a 3-2 overtime loss to San Jose Thursday.

“There are teams who can afford to take time off during a game,” team captain Paul Kariya said. “We don’t have that kind of talent or experience. If we take two minutes off, it could kill us. There is no way we should lose a 2-0 lead in the third period. We’ve got to get it into our heads to do the right thing, especially when the game is on the line.”

Now, though, the season seems to be on the line.

TONIGHT

vs. Kings, 5

Channel 9

* Site--Arrowhead Pond.

* Radio--XTRA (690), KSPN (1110).

* Records--Ducks 8-12-4-3, Kings 12-8-6-0.

* Record vs. Kings--0-0-0-1.

* Update--Goalie Guy Hebert, who has missed the last four games because of a sore left shoulder, will start tonight. Center Steve Rucchin, out since Nov. 15 because of a broken cheekbone and broken nose, will not play but could be ready for Tuesday’s game at St. Louis.

* Tickets--(714) 703-2545.