Ducks Unable to Close Deal

Failure was the common thread with the Mighty Ducks and it came in various forms Thursday night.

The Ducks couldn’t solve their inability to win an overtime game this season as Maxim Afinogenov’s goal in the extra period gave the Buffalo Sabres a 3-2 victory at HSBC Arena.

They also failed to end what is now a nine-game winless streak against the Sabres. And, at least for the time being, they couldn’t move a left wing they are desperate to deal.

Veteran forward Petr Sykora, the subject of recent trade speculation, accompanied the team on its flight to Montreal after being held out of the game pending a possible move that could happen as soon as today.

The Boston Bruins had interest in the proven Sykora after trading captain Joe Thornton, but the two sides were unable to make a deal, a source said. Duck General Manager Brian Burke would not comment about a proposed trade, but team officials would not deny that some sort of move was in the works.

Sykora, whose 34 goals in 2002-03 helped the Ducks reach the Stanley Cup finals, said he and his agent, Ritch Winter, are in the dark. Winter could not be reached.

“Honestly, I don’t know,” Sykora said. “Nobody has told me anything. My agent doesn’t know anything.”

Sykora, 29, is in the final year of a three-year contract that pays him $3.116 million this season. A six-time 20-goal scorer, he has struggled this season with only four goals, none since Nov. 3, and the lack of production has put him on the trading block.

Duck Coach Randy Carlyle said he wouldn’t comment on any speculation involving his forward.

“He’s with our hockey club,” Carlyle said, “until something changes.”

The Ducks (12-12-5) got a point to start their important three-game trip and pull within three of third-place Phoenix in the Pacific Division. But they also failed to hold onto two third-period leads before Afinogenov dealt them their fifth consecutive loss in either overtime or in a shootout.

Duck center Todd Marchant gave Buffalo a four-on-three advantage in overtime when he hooked Brian Campbell on a rush toward the net. Afinogenov made them pay by whistling a clean shot past Jean-Sebastien Giguere’s glove at the 2:11 mark.

“I’m disappointed with the goal,” said Giguere, who made 28 saves in his first start since Nov. 20. “I thought he was going to set up in the zone. My job is to make that first save.”

The Ducks took a 1-0 lead into the third period, but the Sabres, who haven’t lost to the Ducks since Jan. 1, 1999, got a huge break when Thomas Vanek was awarded a penalty shot at 8:06 of the third after being hooked by Ruslan Salei on a breakaway. Vanek easily beat Giguere with a backhand.

Joffrey Lupul gave the Ducks another lead two minutes later, but Buffalo answered when Ales Kotalik ripped a one-timer past Giguere with 3:27 remaining.

“Again, we’ve got to find ways to close those things out,” Carlyle said. “We had opportunities. We played a good road game.”