The Ducks’ flock grew larger and more powerful with the returns of forwards Leo Carlsson and Max Jones ahead of their welcoming the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night.
But with the way they’ve been taking penalties, the resurrection of Gordie Howe might not be much help in halting the six-game losing streak that left them mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.
During a four-game road trip, the Ducks surrendered 10 power-play goals, eight of which came during the third period. They entered the final 20 minutes of their past two games, against Winnipeg and St. Louis, in competitive situations, trailing 2-0 and tied 1-1 at the second intermission, but then put themselves shorthanded and got inundated by the opposition’s man-advantage units repeatedly.
“It’s our biggest problem right now, obviously. Slashing, hooking, holding, tripping, these are all lazy penalties that reflect not working to get on the correct side of the attacker,” Coach Greg Cronin said via text.
They gave up two even-strength goals to Winnipeg in the third period and then slathered on the two power-play tallies in a 6-0 loss that represented their second straight shutout after being blanked, 2-0, in Minnesota. In Jones’ and Carlsson’s return in St. Louis, the Ducks got a pair of goals from Troy Terry, including one set up by Carlsson late, but turned a knotted-up game into a completely unraveled one when they gave up three power-play tallies in less than eight minutes.
Allowing three power-play goals in two straight contests just two games after surrendering four of them established a recipe for disaster. The NHL’s most efficient penalty kill, that of the Kings, has not given up multiple power-play goals in a game since a Dec. 10 loss to the New York Rangers.
While the Ducks and their wobbling penalty kill won’t be competing in the postseason, their top prospect Cutter Gauthier was in action in Hockey East’s conference tournament over the weekend. His Boston College team eliminated UConn and will next square off with UMass-Amherst on Friday.
Gauthier has blown past his point total as a freshman (35) by pouring in 52 points to date. A deep run in the NCAA tournament could signify a delayed arrival in Anaheim for Gauthier, and it seems likely given that all of the top four scorers for BC are first-round picks in the NHL: Gauthier was selected fifth overall, Ryan Leonard was a No. 8 pick, Will Smith went fourth overall and Gabe Perreault has proved a bargain at No. 23.
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The Ducks next face the one team on their four-game journey that did not touch them up with the extra man, Minnesota. The Wild will enter the matchup on a seven-game points streak and with designs on a wild-card berth in the postseason.
Leading scorer Kirill Kaprizov has compiled 13 points across Minnesota’s surge. The prime-of-his-career exuberance of Kaprizov has balanced brilliantly against the sagely play of 39-year-old Marc-Andre Fleury in net. Fleury, who was the subject of trade rumors until the Wild’s front office put them to rest before the deadline, has been resplendent of late. He’s allowed two goals or fewer in 12 of his past 14 appearances, posting a 9-2-1 record in the process, including shutouts of the Ducks and New York Islanders spaced nearly two months apart.
WILD AT DUCKS
When: Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Where: Honda Center
TV: ESPN+, Hulu