Hartsburg Searches for Positives

Coach Craig Hartsburg lingered with reporters longer than usual after the Ducks’ 3-2 loss Saturday to the Edmonton Oilers, attempting to put a positive spin on his team’s fragile mental health.

“I feel bad for our team,” Hartsburg said when asked if the Ducks deserved a better fate Saturday than their 11th loss in 25 games. “They played like heck.”

The Ducks have indeed played strong hockey in their last five games, including a 6-2 victory Nov. 18 over the Phoenix Coyotes that ended a 0-6-2 winless streak. In their last five games, the Ducks have outscored their opposition, 14-13, and outshot them, 145-124. But they are only 2-2-1.

“We’ve got to stick with it,” Hartsburg said. “It’s too early in the season to feel bad for ourselves. We have to stay positive. We have to keep feeling like we’re right there. Now is not the time to question ourselves. We’ve played pretty dang good hockey. It should add to our hunger.”

Hartsburg was particularly impressed with the play of Andy McDonald, a crafty 5-foot-10 rookie center from Colgate. McDonald didn’t have much to show for his adventurous play in the attacking zone. Edmonton goalie Tommy Salo robbed him on a point-blank try in the first period, his only official shot on net.

“He played gritty,” Hartsburg said of McDonald, pressed into service because of injuries to centers Steve Rucchin and German Titov. “He played with speed. We had a lot of great efforts, but we’ve got to keep pushing.”

Hartsburg isn’t concerned that the Ducks will back off, yielding to the frustrations of their last-place standing in the competitive Pacific Division.

“When you pay a price in this game, even if you lost, you know if you’ve played a good game or not,” he said. “Sometimes when you play a good game and you lose it brings the team closer together. At this point, it should make us hungrier. If we’re playing [lousy] and still win, we would feel that, well, we’re really not all on the right page yet.”

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The Ducks did not practice Sunday. Hartsburg said he will know more about the conditions of Titov (dizziness) and goalie Guy Hebert (injured left shoulder) when the team works out today. . . . Look for Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who made 15 saves Saturday, to get his second consecutive start when the Ducks play the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. . . . Rucchin, who suffered a broken nose and cheekbone Nov. 15, is expected to join the Ducks for workouts this week.