Baggage Getting Heavier on Trip

It’s a tricky balancing act the Mighty Ducks bring to Toronto.

They blew a 3-1 lead in the third period, losing, 4-3, to Edmonton on Saturday. It was the third time in four games they have squandered a lead with less than 10 minutes left. This one, though, was special.

For starters, the collapse was pricier. Their previous third-period adventures resulted in points, a 2-2 tie with Vancouver and a 3-2 overtime victory over Colorado. This time, the Ducks came away with nothing.

What to do. Hang on to the memory so never to allow such a thing again? Put it behind you and move on?

“It’s a combination of the two,” team captain Paul Kariya said. “We have to learn from this and at the same time we have another game.”

Petr Sykora, fresh from a New Jersey team that knows how to play with a lead, preached patience. But he was also disturbed by the Ducks’ play Saturday.

“We stopped playing and we stopped competing,” Sykora said. “You can’t do that in this league. If you don’t compete in the third period, it is going to come back on you. We’re not going to get many leads on the road.”

TONIGHT

at Toronto, 4:30 PST

Fox Sports Net 2

Site -- Air Canada Centre.

Radio -- KPLS (830), joined in progress at 5:15 p.m..

Records -- Ducks 2-4-2; Maple Leafs 2-6-1-0.

Record vs. Maple Leafs (2001-02) -- 0-1-0-0.

Update -- The Maple Leafs blew a 3-2 lead in the final five minutes in a 4-3 loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday