Ducks Lose Their Fifth in a Row, 3-1

Welcome to Sunday evening at the Arrowhead Pond, where the Ducks’ offensive shortcomings continue to be exposed.

After a disappointing first period in which he allowed two goals, Anaheim goalie Jean-Sebastian Giguere left the game because of a muscle cramp during a 3-1 loss to Dallas.

The Ducks outshot the Stars 41-19, recording 40 or more shots for a third consecutive game, but all they had to show 54for the effort was their fifth consecutive defeat.

Giguere, who said he was dehydrated, winced and held his leg as he skated off the ice. “It was a pretty intense muscle cramp,” he said. “I’ve always been a heavy sweater. Every game I lose at least 10 pounds or more.”

On the opposite end of the ice, Dallas goaltender Marty Turco was a brick wall in the net.

“It’s tough to contain them entirely,” said Turco, who despite being inconsistent at the onset of the season has won five of his last six starts.

“But for me, it doesn’t matter how many shots or where from, it’s just doing my part and helping to make a difference for this team.”

The Ducks’ only goal came midway through the third period when right wing Jonathan Hedstrom skated into the crease and his shot careened off Star defenseman Stephane Robidas’ right skate.

The Ducks’ losing skid comes after a four-game winning streak. The team has not scored a power play in three of its last four games.

In the post-lockout era, when skilled players supposedly roam free, the Ducks have only five goals in their last four games. It was also the fourth consecutive game in which the Ducks haven’t scored in the first period.

“You have to have a 60-minute effort and that’s the only way we’re going to get ourselves out of this,” center Rob Niedermayer said.

While Turco provided Dallas with stops, Phillipe Boucher, Jere Lehtinen and Bill Guerin supplied the pop.

Boucher and Lehtinen scored within 50 seconds of one another in the first period, and Guerin flipped a rebound past Gigeure’s backup, Ilja Bryzgalov, at 6:25 in the second.

If the Ducks wish to shake off their sluggish start, now would be good time. The team plays eight of its next 10 games at home, including the Stars again on Wednesday.

“The other team’s goalie shouldn’t be the first star every game,” rookie forward Joffrey Lupul said. “We’re going to be better Wednesday, I guarantee that. We’ll come out and play a lot better in the first period than we did tonight.”