Foe links slow start to a ‘Cup hangover’

Much of the blame for the Ducks’ sluggish start has been laid at their season-opening trip to London and injuries.

Few have suggested publicly that the defending Stanley Cup champions are suffering the aftereffects of winning it all. That changed Monday night. After his team’s 5-0 victory over Anaheim, Dallas Stars forward Mike Modano said, “They have a bit of a Stanley Cup hangover going on over there.

“I think it’s tough to come back, as much as they put into the playoffs last year,” he added. “You’ve been pushed physically and mentally only a couple months ago.”

When asked Tuesday about Modano’s comments, Ducks defenseman Sean O’Donnell agreed -- to an extent.

“That could be part of it,” O’Donnell said. “It could be the way teams play against us now. We’ve gone through a stretch where special teams haven’t been strong. Goals haven’t come as easily as they did last year.

“We’re just 10% or 15% below in every single category. Part of it could be Cup hangover or it could be a number of things. It’s definitely an attitude that we haven’t been able to get back that we had last year.”

Their inconsistency also can be seen in the spotty displays of the kind of relentless play for which they have become known.

The Ducks lead the NHL in penalty minutes with 303 and fighting majors with 16. But effective physical play isn’t all about dropping the gloves.

The ability to wear down teams is something the Ducks wear as a badge of honor, and winger Brad May acknowledged they haven’t always done that.

“We have an identity here that we believe we can play to,” May said. “We haven’t shown that yet. We know what we’re capable of and we have to start believing in what we’re capable of.”

For example, the Ducks couldn’t get their forechecking game going as their dumps of the puck into the offensive zone usually wound up on the stick of Dallas goalie Marty Turco, who quickly played it to his defensemen to start a breakout.

“Part of that is not just the hitting,” O’Donnell said. “It’s what happens before that. The way you get the hits is when you dump the puck in areas where the defense has to go and get it. . . .

“We’re not doing the small things that lead to the big hits.”

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TONIGHT

vs. Phoenix, 7 PST, Prime Ticket

Site -- Honda Center.

Radio -- 830.

Records -- Ducks 6-8-2; Coyotes 5-7-0.

Record vs. Coyotes -- 1-1-0.

Update -- Todd Marchant is expected to play despite being inadvertently clipped by the stick of Dallas’ Krys Barch. Mathieu Schneider will play despite taking a shot off his left ankle, the one he broke Sept. 15.

Tickets -- (877) 945-3946.

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eric.stephens@latimes.com