Ducks Let Another One Slip Away

Sifting through the rubble of another loss, there were moments -- painful ones -- that the Mighty Ducks could point to that sealed their fate.

Defenseman Niclas Havelid makes a weak effort to clear the puck.

Defenseman Ruslan Salei falls down.

Two mistakes. Two third-period goals allowed.

Those were the easy snapshots to produce Sunday after a 4-2 loss to the Calgary Flames, the last-place team in the Western Conference.

The 16,922 at the Pengrowth Saddledome saw the Flames win at home for only the third time this season, a nice present for new Coach Darryl Sutter, gift-wrapped by the Ducks.

The wide-screen version of the Ducks’ recent tumble has been in production for a week.

In that time they have gone from starring as the hottest team in the NHL, to playing their usual supporting role by handing out two points at every stop.

This was their third game in four nights and their third consecutive loss, which gave first-year Coach Mike Babcock cause for concern.

“The reality is, we had three days off [for Christmas] and we’ve played three games in four nights,” Babcock said. “So the zip in our game wasn’t there [tonight].

“Structurally we were fine tonight. What was evident was this was our third game since Christmas.”

As structures go, this one needs some retrofitting.

This was the Ducks’ third game in four nights, but it was the first time they failed to pick up at least two points in that situation.

“The reality is, we didn’t get points in three games,” Babcock said.

“When you’re in this conference and in [the Pacific Division], that’s an emergency.”

That left the aura of concern in the air.

“A team could be in a playoff spot, but in two weeks, if they don’t keep playing well, they could be out of it,” Petr Sykora said. “That’s exactly where we are right now. We have to stop this or it is going to be very tough to come back.”

Through two periods, the Ducks held their own and were sitting in a 2-2 tie. The Flames controlled the entire third period, but still needed the game handed to them.

First, Havelid tried to clear a puck high and out of the Duck zone, only to have Calgary’s Chris Clark bat it down. Oleg Saprykin pounced on it and fired a shot that goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere stopped.

But Saprykin put his rebound into the net for a 3-2 lead at 11 minutes 32 seconds into the third period.

Salei later tripped and fell while chasing the puck in the Duck zone. Blake Sloan got to the puck, lost it, then retrieved it and centered a pass to a charging Stephane Yelle. His goal put the game away at 14:26.

“It was 2-2 going into the third and we’re in a good position there,” team captain Paul Kariya said. “We gave them the game ...

“The first game after Christmas, we just weren’t ready to play and it has kind of snowballed. We got to turn this thing around quick. This was the best game we played since we came back and it certainly wasn’t good enough.”

Things started well. McDonald made a slick centering pass to Sykora, who chipped in a shot for a 1-0 lead midway through the first period.

Calgary’s Martin Gelinas redirected a Jerome Iginla shot to tie the score four minutes into the second period. Chris Drury lined up a shot and buried it for a 2-1 lead two minutes later.

The Ducks’ Patric Kjellberg knocked in his own rebound to tie the score 17 minutes into the second period.

The stage was set. The Ducks took the prat fall.

Said Babcock: “The reality is, we’re leaving here without a win.”