Ducks Get a Goal -- and a Loss

Stanislav Chistov scored a goal.

So end the highlights for the Mighty Ducks.

As monumental as it was that Chistov put a puck in the net at a time other than warmups -- a moment in fact that was marked by an emotional outburst on the Duck bench -- the significance was lost in the 2-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks in front of an announced 15,695 at HP Pavilion Monday.

Jonathan Cheechoo cashed in on Andy McDonald’s indecision, scoring with six minutes left to hang the Ducks with their fourth loss in five games. The Ducks will have three days to ponder the situation during the Christmas break.

They will spend that time as the last-place team in the Pacific Division after extending their road winless streak to 12 games (0-7-2-3).

“There is no question, we’re in a funk right now,” team captain Steve Rucchin said. “We need to get away from the rink, be with our families and come back ready to go. We’re not a very good hockey team right now.”

They were taught that again Monday, as they wasted a perfectly good Chistov goal -- his first in 30 games this season. He scored on the power play to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead 2:29 into the second period.

From that point, the Sharks showed why they are chasing the first-place Kings in the division, and why they have beaten the Ducks three times in the last 12 days.

Patrick Marleau tied the score 16:04 into the second period. He then assisted on the game-winner when McDonald got caught on the ice as a Duck power play ended.

McDonald, who was playing the point on the power play, was supposed to get to the bench and let a defenseman on before it ended. Instead, he hesitated, then was deked by Marleau at the blue line. Cheechoo took a pass and fired a shot off goaltender Martin Gerber’s pad and into the net.

“I started toward the bench and saw the puck come out,” McDonald said. “I was afraid he was going to get a breakaway. I made a mistake and tried to get back.”

That’s how life has been for the Ducks thus far this season. Make a mistake. Give up a goal. Lose a game.

It has been as simple as 1-2-3.

“That’s because we have Murphy’s Law working for you,” Coach Mike Babcock said.

McDonald, though, did not cite divine intervention.

“It’s a 1-1 game,” McDonald said. “I need to get off the ice.”

That left buried what the Ducks can only hope is Chistov’s breakthrough moment.

Chistov had a quality rookie year, scoring 12 goals during the regular season and four more in the playoffs. He had zilch through the first 29 games this season.

He had created a certain amount of frustration in Duck hierarchy. Management was unhappy that he came to camp out of shape. Babcock was perplexed, wondering why Chistov didn’t shoot the puck more.

Chistov finally lightened his shoulders by getting to the net on a power play. He was in perfect position when a centering pass from McDonald went off goaltender Evgeni Nabokov and bounced around the blue paint in the crease. Chistov chipped the puck in for a 1-0 lead.

“I feel like that will make me confident,” Chistov said. “Now I can play like I did before.”

“You look at the amount of goals we’re scoring and it isn’t many,” Babcock said. “We’re not giving up many, but we need more scoring.”