Loss to Kings Feeds a Sense of Urgency

There was little reason for the Mighty Ducks to push the panic button Thursday. The seriously concerned button, however, needed to be pressed.

Sifting through the rubble of the Ducks’ 4-2 loss to the Kings on Wednesday was the order of the day.

“I watched it two times since [on video] and it’s no prettier,” Coach Mike Babcock said.

“There was no excuse for the way we competed. They are accountable to each other, they are accountable to the organization and they are accountable to themselves.” That was the message Babcock delivered when he met with the team’s veterans, individually and in small groups. There was a sense of urgency in the dressing room. The Ducks, already 1-3, play Vancouver tonight, Colorado Sunday and then head off on a five-game trip.

“We got to get this going right now, we got to play some desperate hockey,” team captain Paul Kariya said. “I thought the first three games went well, even though we won only one of them. I saw good signs. I thought it was definitely something we could build on, which is why [Wednesday] night was such a disappointment.”

TONIGHT

vs. Vancouver, 7:30

Fox Sports Net 2

Site -- Arrowhead Pond.

Radio -- KPLS (830).

Records -- Ducks 1-3-0-0, Canucks 2-2.

Record vs. Canucks (2001-02) -- 1-2-0-1.

Update -- Rookie forward Stanislav Chistov, a healthy scratch Thursday, will return to the lineup tonight. “I learn better on the ice,” Chistov said.

Tickets -- (877) 945-3946.