Weathering a Loss, Pondering Next Move

Coach Mike Babcock meant to say that the Ducks’ 7-2 loss at Detroit on Wednesday wasn’t the end of the world.

“We got kicked big time,” he said, “but the sun got up today.”

He paused, noting the rain outside the team’s hotel. “Well, it kind of didn’t, but we have to get on with things,” he added. “We have to find out, what are we right now? I don’t know that we have an identity.”

They don’t have much of a power play, either, with no goals in 13 chances over the last four games. They also have no victories in their last nine road games (0-4-2-3) and only one overall victory in their last eight games (1-2-3-2).

Despite their woes, Babcock didn’t schedule a practice Thursday.

“Today was important,” he said. “You feel we should go out and skate like crazy, but then you realize you need a day off, away from each other.”

He will use the time to ponder some changes beyond restoring defenseman Vitali Vishenvski to the lineup Friday. Winger Rob Niedermayer, who has a groin pull, will miss his third successive game and probably won’t return Sunday against Dallas at the Arrowhead Pond.

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Detroit winger Steve Thomas, a sparkplug for the Ducks late last season and during the playoffs, noticed a key difference in his old team’s play.

Babcock “likes to have speed through the neutral zone ... and I didn’t see a whole lot of that,” he said. “They like to gain the zone and create a forecheck. But the way we played, it might have been difficult for them to have much puck possession.” However, he said, “they’ve got a good bunch of guys who have scored a few goals.”

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TODAY

at Atlanta, 4:30 p.m.

Site -- Philips Arena.

Radio -- KLAC 570.

Records -- Ducks 8-9-4-5, Thrashers 12-11-3-1.

Record vs. Thrashers -- (2002-03) 1-1-0-0.

Update -- The Thrashers have pulled together after the preseason car crash that killed passenger Dan Snyder and seriously injured driver Dany Heatley, who had knee surgery but might return in March. Although the Thrashers have lost four of their last five games, they have stayed at or near the top of the Southeast Division. Winger Ilya Kovalchuk is the NHL’s top goal scorer with 18.