The Anaheim Ducks lost another must win game last night and as much as this stings to type - the Los Angeles Kings were clearly the better team.
The Kings were more poised in their decision making and dictated play throughout most of the game, despite being out shot 31-19. The Ducks could not generate enough traffic in front on Janathan Quick to take advantage of the numerous rebounds he was giving up.
The Kings forced Anaheim to shoot from the outside while keeping the front of the net clear.
Los Angeles also did a great job of keeping Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf quiet. The duo had no points, fired just three shots on net and were a combined minus-2.
The Kings on the other hand were led by their big guns. Anze Kopitar, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter combined for six points (3g 3a) and were a plus-4 on the night.
It could have been worse had Jonas Hiller not played well once again. With the Ducks trailing by a goal in the third, Hiller kept Anaheim within striking distance by making a fantastic sprawling leg save to prevent a sure hat trick and game clinching goal from Carter.
But, I'm not going to beat a dead horse. They lost to the Kings - case closed. Let's look at what the Ducks missed out on by losing to their cross-county rivals.
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The real travesty is that once again the Ducks couldn't take advantage of the teams ahead of them losing. The Sharks and Avalanche both fell in regulation. If Anaheim themselves had won in regulation they could have pulled within two points of LA and Colorado.
Instead they fall six back of the Kings, remain four back of the Avalanche and still trail Dallas and San Jose by seven. It's not looking good folks.
Anaheim has lost three of four, after having looked unbeatable for nearly two months. The idea of not making the playoffs is finally starting to sink in.
I was once extremely confident in this team but as I witnessed first-hand with New Jersey last season -
some holes are just too big to climb out of.
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I have a quick Emerson Etem update....in case your wondering.
It looks as though the 19-year-old from Long Beach still leads the Western Hockey League in goal scoring. He's currently playing for Medicine Hat of WHL and has 100 points (55g 45a) in just 59 games.
He currently leads the goal scoring race by two goals over Ty Rattie of the Portland Winterhawks.
The Ducks prospect has amassed 245 points (137g 108a) in only 196 games in three seasons with Medicine Hat.
Follow me on Twitter! @StevePalumboNHL
Email me at [email protected] 
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