Chouinard Is Left Frustrated

It was late in the second period and the Mighty Ducks trailed Atlanta, 2-0, but Marc Chouinard and his linemates were getting good pressure on Thrasher goaltender Milan Hnilicka. But just when it appeared that Chouinard had slipped the puck past the goal line, play was stopped by officials, leaving the Ducks still down by two goals.

“I know that [the puck] crossed the line, but I’m not sure that it was actually a goal,” said Chouinard, who had his only two shots on goal in the second period in the Ducks’ 4-1 loss to the Thrashers. “The thing that is frustrating is that [the NHL has] goal review. I just wanted him to go upstairs [and check with the video goal judge] and be sure with his decision. There’s never an argument after that.”

The Ducks eventually scored before the period ended and trailed, 2-1, before being held scoreless in the third. Coach Mike Babcock was still upset about the non-goal nearly 30 minutes after the game ended.

“That was another turning point in the game,” Babcock said. “It was a goal that they said did not go in but it was in the net....The referee told me that he called [the video goal judge] and then I’m told later that he didn’t. I don’t know what the rule exactly is but that was a huge point.”

Although the Ducks did not lose the game on the non-call, the play summed up their frustration after losing for the third time in their last four games.

“It doesn’t matter who you play because you have to worry about yourself,” Babcock said. “Every team in this league can beat anyone else.”

*

Before the start of Sunday’s game, the Ducks began a postcard-writing program, which allows fans to send messages to U.S. soldiers in the Middle East. More than 900 postcards -- which include pictures of the American flag and the Statue of Liberty -- were signed Sunday. Similar events will be held at home games March 9, 16 and 30.