Ducks Have Everything in Line--Except a Win

The Mighty Ducks’ 2000 hangover continues.

They suffered no significant breakdowns or letdowns in a 2-0 defeat Wednesday night to the Ottawa Senators at the Arrowhead Pond.

The Ducks still couldn’t win.

They skated hard and hit harder. They worked for quality scoring chances. They defended their net as if their lives depended on it. They played as if on a mission.

The Ducks simply could not score.

Ottawa didn’t generate much of anything, but skated off with a victory thanks to Vaclav Prospal’s missile over the left shoulder of Guy Hebert at 11:29 of the third period. Marian Hossa added an empty-net goal with a minute left.

And so it goes for the luckless Ducks, who are 0-3-1 in the new year and 1-7-1 since compiling a season-high four-game winning streak last month.

It was the first time the Ducks had been shut out since a 3-0 loss Oct. 31 against the Phoenix Coyotes.

The Ducks’ loss, when coupled with the Calgary Flames’ overtime victory against the Dallas Stars, dropped them into 10th place in the Western Conference standings.

“We’re going through a tough time right now,” Teemu Selanne said. “[The conference is] so tough, so tight. It’s going to be a big challenge for us to turn it around and get back on track. We have to stay positive. It’s the only strength we have right now.”

The Ducks had their game together from the start Wednesday.

Having something to show for all their pluck was another story, however.

The Ducks got nothing past Ottawa goalie Ron Tugnutt after 60 minutes of fairly strong play. The Ducks outshot Ottawa, 32-25, including by 14-8 in the pivotal third period.

An offensive outburst alone wasn’t going to bring the Ducks back on track. A power-play goal wasn’t going to get it done by itself either.

What the Ducks needed to cure their ills was a simple, solid effort, which is what they gave themselves and the announced crowd of 12,501.

“I wish there was an easy formula for [winning],” Coach Craig Hartsburg said.

A heavy check from winger Mike Leclerc sent a charge into the Ducks and their fans. It also sent Ottawa’s Jason York crumpling to the ice after crashing into the glass.

In the second period, Selanne had the Ducks’ best chances. He was denied on a quick shot from the slot at the 8:40 mark, then was turned away twice on point-blank tries with about 2:30 left in the period.

Ottawa’s Daniel Alfredsson had his team’s best second-period chance, cruising on goal from the left wing. But he lifted his shot over the net midway through the period.

All things considered, the Ducks did not look like a team on the verge of a breakdown. Their pregame mood was upbeat.

Their recent rut notwithstanding, Hebert believed the Ducks were in great shape heading into the season’s final 40 games.

“We’ve got the right systems,” Hebert said at Wednesday’s morning skate. “We’ve got great role players. We’ve got great young players. All the elements are there.

“The key is not to panic.”

There was no sign of panic against Ottawa. The Ducks played with the required sense of urgency to start Wednesday’s game. They played with poise and passion.

The only thing missing were goals.

“Sometimes you get into these situations where you don’t play well and you have a stretch like this where you have to play some good games but still lose before you come out of it,” Hartsburg said.

“I don’t doubt we will come out of this. Tonight was a good, positive step for our team. I thought we outplayed them for a lot of the hockey game. I thought we played a strong game and didn’t get a reward. If we can continue to skate and play the way we did tonight we will win.”