Defensive Lapses a Concern

After defeating the Detroit Red Wings on Dec. 19, the Ducks had an impressive goals-against average of 2.15. Lately, they can’t seem to keep the puck out of their net. Their goals-against average in the eight games since the All-Star break is 4.12.

“I can’t say it’s one thing,” Coach Craig Hartsburg said. “Everybody has had some contribution to our defensive slide. We go long stretches and play strong defensive hockey, then we make a huge mistake and it ends up in our net.

“You see some teams that can’t play defense at all. That’s not us. We can play great defensively for long stretches.”

What is the solution?

“We’ve gone over all our defensive systems with the guys,” Hartsburg said. “We can’t back off. We have to stay focused and desperate. Every shift.”

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The Ducks had an optional practice Thursday, but will return today at full strength to prepare for Sunday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers at the Arrowhead Pond.

“[Thursday] was a rest day, then we have two days where everything will be preparing for Sunday,” Hartsburg said. “[Thursday] was a day to recharge for our next set of battles.”

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Left wing Paul Kariya will not play Sunday, Hartsburg said.

Kariya’s bruised right foot is still sore and swollen. The Ducks hope Kariya will be improved by Tuesday, when they start a three-game trip to play the San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames.

Kariya, who leads the Ducks with 69 points, was injured while blocking a shot by Calgary defenseman Derek Morris last week. He was sidelined for games this week against the St. Louis Blues and the Canucks.

It’s the same foot Kariya broke after blocking a shot in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup playoff series against Detroit last spring.

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Defenseman Niclas Havelid, sidelined for more than a month because of a broken right middle finger, has resumed skating and is scheduled to see a hand specialist Wednesday.

If all goes well, Havelid will be cleared to begin shooting and passing drills during practice. He probably won’t play until after the Ducks return from their three-game trip next week.