Ducks need to start walking the walk

It’s time for the Ducks to stop insisting they’re better than their record indicates.

If they want to be considered an elite team they should be playing like one, and they’re not.

Instead of assembling a winning streak that would solidify their hold on a spot in the top eight, they’re providing signs every game that they’re retreating toward mediocrity.

“Two steps forward, one step back. One step forward, two steps back in this case,” Ducks defenseman Chris Pronger said in the silent locker room after their 4-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning before an unhappy crowd at the Honda Center.

Ryan Malone’s second goal of the game, scored at 10:50 of the third period on a rebound the Ducks’ defense couldn’t clear, was the difference in a herky-jerky effort by the Ducks against an Eastern Conference bottom feeder.

The Ducks woke up long enough in the second period to erase a 3-1 Lightning lead only to get a collective brain freeze in the third and do themselves in yet again.

At least they’re creative in that regard. If they’re not taking bad penalties -- yes, that means you, Mr. Pronger -- their leading scorer, Ryan Getzlaf, is allowing himself to be goaded into a fight that takes him off the ice for five minutes early in the third period of a 3-3 game.

“Not. Very . . . I want to say not very smart,” Coach Randy Carlyle said, choosing his words carefully.

Elite teams, or teams that aspire to long playoff marches, don’t do that. But all evidence to the contrary, the Ducks still cling to the notion that they’re better than this.

“We haven’t shown it,” defenseman Scott Niedermayer said, “but I wouldn’t fault anyone that maybe isn’t in this room for having questions. But I think we believe in here and that’s why this is not where we want to be.”

They’ve been shaken by injuries to Francois Beauchemin, Kent Huskins and Teemu Selanne and hurt by the four-game suspension levied against Corey Perry, who’s eligible to return Sunday against the New Jersey Devils. They’ve had to work a half-dozen kids into their lineup, with some predictably rough spots.

But that doesn’t explain why they’ve been short-handed more than any other team in the NHL and why their team defense, once so cohesive and commanding, is a vulnerable spot.

“We definitely didn’t play our best game,” Niedermayer said, “but every chance they had they just seemed to put it in the back of the net on us, and I guess that’s the way it goes when you don’t play your best. You pay the price that way.”

The evening took a bad turn for the Ducks when center Todd Marchant came out for the warmups but decided he couldn’t play because of what was called an upper-body injury.

Later, he was seen wearing a splint on a finger of his left hand, and he will be re-evaluated today.

His spot was taken by left wing Matt Beleskey, who had six goals and 15 points with Iowa of the American Hockey League. He certainly wasn’t the problem Friday.

“These guys stepped in and work hard and skate hard. They do their jobs. It’s really no excuse for not going out there and not executing the game plan or not working,” Niedermayer said.

As has happened too often lately, the Ducks were uninspired and outplayed in the first period and gave up a short-handed goal.

Jussi Jokinen was in the penalty box for tripping Drew Miller when Martin St. Louis used his speed to get outside on Pronger and flick a wrist shot over the glove hand of goalie Jonas Hiller at 3:28.

Tampa Bay increased its lead to 2-0 at 1:41 of the second period. Vincent Lecavalier made a fine pass to former Duck Vaclav Prospal, who was alone by the right post when he beat Hiller for his ninth goal this season.

The Ducks’ first goal came during a power play, at 8:42 of the second period.

Bret Hedican’s shot from the right point bounced in front, where Brendan Morrison took a swipe at it.

With goalie Karri Ramo down, the puck popped over to the left side, where Andrew Ebbett poked it into the net for his second goal this season.

Tampa Bay extended its lead to 3-1 at 17:51, when Malone walked in from the right-wing boards and jammed home a shot while Pronger was serving a needless cross-checking penalty.

“Some of us, including myself, need to pick up the play a little bit, especially defensively,” Pronger said.

The Ducks did regain their composure and scored twice in 12 seconds to pull even, on a 45-foot shot by Steve Montador at 18:28 and a wrist shot by Pronger, at the hash marks, at 18:40. But Malone ended their comeback hopes, if not their illusions.

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helene.elliott@latimes.com