Will It Be Another Bump in Road?

The Mighty Ducks face their biggest fear tonight.

Facing the Chicago Blackhawks doesn’t make them tremble. But being on the road seems to give them goose bumps.

The Ducks have seven road victories. Only three teams have fewer. Their 7-19-3-4 record away from the Arrowhead Pond is a large reason the playoffs will almost certainly skip a stop in Anaheim.

“We’ve been outstanding at home, but you get to play half the games at home,” said Coach Mike Babcock, whose team has won nine of its last 11 home games and lost the other two in overtime.

“You can’t book all 82 in your building. They don’t let it go that way. You’ve got play on the road as well.”

Why the Ducks have struggled on the road is a mystery. Certainly matchups have an effect, but as Babcock has said, “You have to find a way to fight through that.”

The Ducks haven’t, scoring only six goals in their last five road games.

“I know on the road we’re hesitant,” Sergei Fedorov said. “At home, we feel better. Maybe we have different rink here. Mentally, we need to bring the same action on the road. We wouldn’t have any trouble winning games.”

TONIGHT

at Chicago, 5:30 PST, FSN 2

Site -- United Center.

Radio -- XTRA (690), XTRA (1150).

Records -- Ducks 24-26-9-8, Blackhawks 18-34-9-5.

Record vs. Blackhawks -- 1-1-1.

Update -- Kyle Calder, who leads Chicago with 21 goals, broke his left leg against Tampa Bay on Wednesday. His season is over. The Ducks sent Chris Kunitz to minor league Cincinnati Thursday.