The Anaheim Ducks are heading back to Southern California following a relatively successful swing through Western Canada. The Ducks went 2-1-1 in the four games away from the Honda Center. Despite earning five of a possible eights points, I can't help but feel like it was much worse than that.
The Ducks had no energy in Tuesday night's loss to the lowly Vancouver Canucks. It was a game Anaheim should have won and they let it get away. They played without desperation in a time when every shift should be full of desperation.
It was a terrible loss. Anaheim is in a fight for their playoff lives and time is running out. The setback pushed them out of third place in the Pacific Division and into the second Wild Card spot in the West.
The Kings moved back into third place - with a game in hand. The Ducks and Kings meet on Friday in Anaheim and it is going to feel very much like a game 7. It is by far the biggest game of the season for both teams thus far.
The concern - which Ducks team will show up?
Let's face it the loss to Vancouver was the icing on a cake made of uninspiring play.
The Ducks were thoroughly outplayed and over matched vs. the Jets. Be honest - watching that game felt like the Ducks were killing a 60-minute power play. They stole that point. No...John Gibson stole that point.
They looked like hot garbage for two periods in Edmonton before the smelling salts kicked in for the the third period. Again, they were lucky to leave with two points. Good teams make their own luck and sometimes lucky is just lucky. #captainobvious
I felt very good about the Ducks prior to these last three games. I'm a bit nervous now. The Blues have won six games in a row and just beat the Sharks in OT, snapping their eight game win streak. Colorado in 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. Four teams fighting for three spots and none of them are going away.
A regulation loss on Friday could spell doom for this club. Perhaps some home cooking will be enough to snap them back into shape. They have won six of seven in the Pond. So, there's that.
What's your mental state? Nervous yet? Comment below. :)
Thanks for reading, Steve