Ducks need to think outside the box

NASHVILLE -- The Ducks haven’t begun to lease space in every penalty box in the NHL, but it might become an option. They’re in it so often, it might as well be kept furnished.

After all, the bench is usually kept warm with all the comings and goings. But killing penalties for an entire game is never a recipe for success.

Taking penalties is simply what the Ducks do, and Saturday night they couldn’t mount any semblance of an attack until it was too late in a 4-2 loss to the Nashville Predators at the Sommet Center.

The Ducks (14-13-4) had a winning streak halted at two games largely because they kept the penalty box attendant busy opening the door, with 13 trips in all. Eleven of those were minor penalties and their proclivity to draw referees’ whistles is wearing on Coach Randy Carlyle.

“This is an all-too-familiar statement,” Carlyle said, emphasizing each word. “We are taking far too many penalties.”

The reason, he said, was escaping him at the moment.

“I’ve asked that question of everybody, including every player and every member of the coaching staff,” Carlyle said, measuring his words. “It seems at times we as a group can’t help ourselves.”

Killing penalties actually was a strong point against the Predators as the Ducks successfully erased nine of 10 Nashville power plays. But it was the sheer number of penalties that kept them from playing at full strength for any extended time.

Four of those power plays came in the first period, helping the Predators rack up 19 shots against Ducks backup goalie Jonas Hiller. Jordin Tootoo and Alexander Radulov were able to beat him for a 2-0 lead, and it would have been worse had Hiller not made several fine stops.

“He gave us a chance in the first for sure,” Carlyle said of Hiller, who made 29 saves. “I don’t think his play was to the level where he needed to be after that. But you can’t blame him for that because he gave us a chance.”

Ryan Suter made it 3-0 in the second period with a goal from just inside the blue line. The Ducks wrapped goals by Shane Hnidy and Ryan Getzlaf around Jerred Smithson’s short-handed tally for Nashville as they once again were resigned to trying to dig themselves out of a hole they created.

“We keep taking penalties,” said Ducks forward Corey Perry, who had two of the minors. “It started with me, I guess. We had too many penalties in the offensive zone, and it cost our team. Those have got to be eliminated.”

The Ducks led the league in penalty minutes last season, but it didn’t keep them from winning the Stanley Cup. A large part of that was the 71 fighting majors they racked up, which also led the NHL.

They’re easily outpacing every other team in both categories again this season. But their penalty-killing percentage has fallen dramatically; they’re 25th in the league, after finishing fifth last season.

A clear difference has been not having Scott Niedermayer’s skating and stickhandling to help erase disadvantages when the Ducks’ structure breaks down.

Niedermayer will be back, perhaps next week, after ending his three-month sabbatical away from the game, but he can’t help them now.

“Until you have the player back, you don’t know how it’s going to help,” Carlyle said. “We’re certainly not relieving ourselves of any of the responsibility that goes with the way we’re playing.”

Defenseman Chris Pronger said they have to become more disciplined. Somehow.

“From the way we played last year, we have a reputation,” Pronger said. “You don’t always have to live up to your reputation. Reputations don’t always precede themselves.

“We are the defending Stanley Cup champions. We play a physical brand of hockey. You’ve got to understand that teams are not only looking to egg us on, but the referees are looking at us too. We don’t help ourselves out in that regard at all.”

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eric.stephens@latimes.com