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Ducks plagued by their own inconsistency

January 16, 2018, 4:23 PM ET [10 Comments]
Steve Palumbo
Colorado Avalanche Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Anaheim Ducks followed up a big emotional win over the L.A. Kings with a brutal letdown in Colorado. Injuries aside, the Ducks have been uncharacteristically inconsistent this season and more so of late and they are in serious danger of missing the playoffs because of it.

When the calendar changed over from 2017 to 2018 it brought Ducks' fanss glimmer of hope. Hope that their team, finally healthy, would turn the page on a rough first half and charge full steam ahead into their customary playoff positioning. Since Jan. 1, the Ducks have been anything but moving full speed ahead. They are 2-2-1 and dropping like a lead weight in the standings.

In years past, the Ducks were a very predictable club. Any team playing Anaheim knew to expect a tight, physical game where they would be forced to work for every inch of space on the ice. The Ducks have always been known and a hard nosed, gritty, lunch box type of club with skill to boot. Lately they look more like somebody occupying space in a cubicle job they hate.

We catch glimpses of that team from time to time, only to see it evaporate as quickly as it came.

Take the game in Calgary last week. The Ducks rallied from a 2-0 third period hole to pull even. It felt like a turning point in the season. It felt like the comeback kids, never-say-die Ducks were back and then *poof* they allow a last second goal to erase it all. No win, no points...only disappointment.

Or when they followed up back-to-back five goals offensive outburts with an embarrassing 2-1 shootout loss to the imploding Edmonton Oilers.

And of course yesterday. They dominate the Kings, a hated rival and a team ahead of them in the standings. They have a chance to carry that momentum into an afternoon game with Colorado, another team surging in the West and they fall flat on their beaks. With the win, Colorado pulled two full points ahead of Anaheim with two games in hand. That one hurts big time.

Yes, Jonathan Bernier had a good game. Yes, the Andrew Cogliano suspension cast a dark cloud over the team and yes, they played the night before, but in reality - those are just excuses. Good teams don't make excuses. They don't need too. Good teams pull the sweater over their head, tighten up the boot straps and get to work. Anaheim is not there right now.

This inconsistency is going to cost them another crack at the Stanley Cup. The Western Conference playoff race is as tight as I can remember and good teams will be left out. It may take 98 points to secure even a wild card spot and the Anaheim team I see right now does not have 98 points in them. Is there some recency bias in my opinion? - of course there is. I'm just calling it as I see it and what I see coming out of Anaheim is not good.

Thanks for reading,
Steve
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