Ducks Falling Out of the Race

The Mighty Ducks defined themselves Monday night.

They are also-rans, not contenders in the playoff race. They are sellers, not buyers, for today’s trade deadline. Those lines were clearly drawn in a 5-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens in front of an announced 14,947 at the Arrowhead Pond.

Goaltender Jose Theodore smothered the Ducks, stopping 36 of 38 shots. Saku Koivu scored the Canadiens’ first goal, tying the score, and set up the second, which put his team ahead to stay. Five players scored for the Canadiens, who solidified their hold on a playoff spot.

All of which had Duck Coach Mike Babcock reminiscing.

“Their goalie was phenomenal, and they were able to score on their opportunities,” Babcock said. “That’s how we won games last year.”

That was then. This, unfortunately for the Ducks, is now.

What remains for the Ducks are 12 games and the question of who will be on the team to play in those games after today’s noon trade deadline. General Manager Bryan Murray said he would be at the office this morning and would “listen to all offers.”

Toronto has made inquiries about backup goaltender Martin Gerber. Maple Leaf General Manager John Ferguson Jr. has reportedly already rejected one of two player requests that Murray made over the weekend.

Murray is believed to be seeking a big forward.

Those sorts of rumors have players a little edgy.

“It’s only natural that you get on edge at this point,” Duck defenseman Keith Carney said. “It’s nothing you can control, but still, it weighs on your mind. What you can do is play hard.”

The Ducks did just that through the first period. They were playing without Sergei Fedorov, who sat out because of flu-like symptoms, and Mike Leclerc, who had a sore knee, but still had the first nine shots in the game and a 17-5 edge at the end of the first period. Yet all it got them was a 1-1 tie.

Rob Niedermayer shoveled in a rebound for a 1-0 Duck lead 4:53 into the game.

Koivu erased that when he crashed the net and chipped in a perfect pass from Richard Zednik 17:14 into the first period. Koivu returned the favor, feeding Zednik at the blue line to send him off on a breakaway. His goal gave the Canadiens a 2-1 lead 14:45 into the third period.

The Ducks squandered a four-minute power play in the second period. Theodore then stoned them in the third period, including two bang-bang saves on Joffrey Lupul.

The Canadiens got goals from Pierre Digenesis and Michael Ryder among three third-period goals to put the game -- and maybe the Ducks playoff hopes -- out of reach.