Steve Palumbo: Ducks survive in Buffalo; Is this even a playoff caliber team anymore?

Right now, they're on pace to go 39-28-15, which is 93 points. If they can keep up the win ratio and turn a few of the losses into OTL's, they'll get in.

"Five games they should have swept". And how were they going to counteract the Leaf speed in the third period? What ya smokin' b'y?

"Five games they should have swept". And how were they going to counteract the Leaf speed in the third period? What ya smokin' b'y?
- Leafsmart

Thanks for reading!

I’m planning on not watching hockey come April. They get up for the good teams but play down to the bad teams. That tendency would be an advantage if by chance they made the playoffs though.

And just a few days ago I had a bunch of Ducks fans up in arms when I stated they weren't contenders in their current state...

RC and his system is GARBAGE. So is Bieksa.

I’m planning on not watching hockey come April. They get up for the good teams but play down to the bad teams. That tendency would be an advantage if by chance they made the playoffs though.
- DiggerCal

If that's the case, why won't you be watching in April?

I still think the Ducks will make the playoffs. I'm not so sure about the Kings. Either way, I'll be watching playoff hockey. The Gulls are looking really good lately. And they have some serious talent right now, with a 4th line of big veterans. Does everyone know Eric Fehr has been on loan to the Gulls for a month or two now? Unbelievable! And he's skating on that 4th line. The defense includes Welinski, Megna, Pederson, Thompson, and Larsson. The future is bright, even if you're all ready to give up on this Ducks team.

RC has been a complete disaster of a coach. He has turned what was considered a great young defensive nucleus into a joke. The system (if you can call it that) has caused this team to regress so much it is comical. Add in that Bieksa is one of the worst Dmen in the league and yet still plays Top 4 mins is downright scary.

Barstool Bob hired his old drinking buddy as a coach and the results have been so predictable. This team is on the wrong path and the future is cloudy because of some of the contracts that are on the books.

I love the Ducks but the organization is headed in the wrong direction.

Can everyone say hello to the 12 pick in the draft? The team is not good enough to hit the playoffs but not bad enough to get a top pick. Mediocrity at its finest.

Yeah . The gulls are a good team right now yezermaaanly. Something funny is going though. Normally I past years we'd see tons of call up a roster shuffling trying to get the right blend of players. This year it's been pretty uneventful. Thinking maybe bob wants to wait till next year to play the kids. Maybe has afraid of the next expansion draft and doesn't wana expose to many of them.
Anyways this team has to go all out to win games. If their effort is any less than maximum then lose. There really is no wiggle room for them. And chasing around all those speedy teams on this last trip coupled with all the travel wore them out. That game in buffalo was the most tired I've seen them all year. So I'm glad we got the points for the sabers. Heck they don't need them. They're shooting for the lottery.
And I saw Kediles was called up. Hopefully he gets a good look. Because right now a little more speed could really make things more balanced.
Last thing I'd like to say is this has only been together about a month. Flaws were bound to show up eventually. These thing are usually addressed in November or December but since all the injuries has set us back 3 months we are going to have to make adjustments fast.

they are. April will be a good month !

I want to say yes... however they really test the faith ... Rico has 5 game winners for this squad ... RR & Kase are solid but that 2nd line can’t score to save their skins and that’s a problem... and can someone, anyone teach these guys how to hit an empty net ... please... it’s simply embarrassing. They had multiple chances yesterday & almost tried to miss it.
The D recently just blows chunks even Josh & Hampus look terrible.

RC has been a complete disaster of a coach. He has turned what was considered a great young defensive nucleus into a joke. The system (if you can call it that) has caused this team to regress so much it is comical. Add in that Bieksa is one of the worst Dmen in the league and yet still plays Top 4 mins is downright scary.

Barstool Bob hired his old drinking buddy as a coach and the results have been so predictable. This team is on the wrong path and the future is cloudy because of some of the contracts that are on the books.

I love the Ducks but the organization is headed in the wrong direction.

Can everyone say hello to the 12 pick in the draft? The team is not good enough to hit the playoffs but not bad enough to get a top pick. Mediocrity at its finest.
- H.E.Pennypacker

Conference finals last season says you're overreacting. Take a chill pill and call me in the morning. I'm not saying they're winning the Cup this season. Heck, they might even miss the playoffs. But can we at least let them fail before we write the obituary?

I want to say yes... however they really test the faith ... Rico has 5 game winners for this squad ... RR & Kase are solid but that 2nd line can’t score to save their skins and that’s a problem... and can someone, anyone teach these guys how to hit an empty net ... please... it’s simply embarrassing. They had multiple chances yesterday & almost tried to miss it.
The D recently just blows chunks even Josh & Hampus look terrible.
- dozerD10

If they would skate it out of the zone first, or just clear it without icing it first, I'm thinking they'd have a better chance. At least make them try to carry it back in with an empty net behind them. Shooting from 150'+ with guys bearing down on you isn't a good plan.

Well it’s safe to say that all the lurkers have thrown in the towel. Don’t let the door hit ya on the way out.

To the real fans, there are 27 games left on the schedule. That’s a lot of hockey left to be played. Ideally, we’re going to see this team start to clamp down defensively and get hot offensively. When the system is working, which is contingent on being strong on the puck, they’re getting good looks. If they can win puck battles, they’ll earn opportunities. Their fate is still in their hands.

Some veterans might not get another shot at a cup run. The time is now to muster that old man strength. The opposition has had too much freedom. This team must be better if they want to make the playoffs.

As far as the young talent, some of these guys have been too quiet. After Ritchie’s 14 goal campaign last year, I easily thought Nick was Newport bound. Same thing goes for Montour prior to him putting the Nasty Slapper on the shelf. FYI, buckling down and getting results is the only way to give your agent more bargaining power.

Conference finals last season says you're overreacting. Take a chill pill and call me in the morning. I'm not saying they're winning the Cup this season. Heck, they might even miss the playoffs. But can we at least let them fail before we write the obituary?
- yzermaneely

Youre ok with how RC has coached this season? The defense has taken a huge step back and his system is non existent.

The only reason they made the finals last season was because the first 2 rounds were against lower end teams. As soon as the Ducks played a real playoff team, they folded.

This is a guy who wanted Boll in the lineup and plays Bieksa top 4 minutes. He has been that bad and needs to be fired as soon as the team misses the playoffs.

Youre ok with how RC has coached this season? The defense has taken a huge step back and his system is non existent.

The only reason they made the finals last season was because the first 2 rounds were against lower end teams. As soon as the Ducks played a real playoff team, they folded.

This is a guy who wanted Boll in the lineup and plays Bieksa top 4 minutes. He has been that bad and needs to be fired as soon as the team misses the playoffs.
- H.E.Pennypacker

Folded? A healthy Gibson as opposed to that garbage game from Bernier in game 6 and who knows what could have happened. Far from folded

Folded? A healthy Gibson as opposed to that garbage game from Bernier in game 6 and who knows what could have happened. Far from folded
- GOLEAFS71

This dude is a troll, maybe a closet Kings fan. I'd like him to tell me how Carlyle is to blame for Montour and Lindholm having sub-par seasons. Not to mention Silfverberg and Ritchie aren't scoring. Hell, if it wasn't for Adam Henrique, the Ducks would be definite sellers at the deadline.

This dude is a troll, maybe a closet Kings fan. I'd like him to tell me how Carlyle is to blame for Montour and Lindholm having sub-par seasons. Not to mention Silfverberg and Ritchie aren't scoring. Hell, if it wasn't for Adam Henrique, the Ducks would be definite sellers at the deadline.
- duxcup07

He's not a troll - he's absolutely right. Bernier was literally fighting back tears in that game. A healthy Gibson would have been clutch.

He's not a troll - he's absolutely right. Bernier was literally fighting back tears in that game. A healthy Gibson would have been clutch.
- ducks4thewin

MY bad, I was talking about Pennypacker.