It been ugly, plain and simple. The Ducks are suffering through their first three game losing streak of the season. Its the NHL, every team goes through a cold spell. Unfortunately, over the course of the past three games things have gone from bad to worse.
It started with an overtime loss in Washington. In that game Ilya Bryzgalov actually looked like an NHL goal through three periods and overtime. He was eventually lack of competency was eventually exposed in the shoot out when the Capitals beat him like rented office furniture.
From there it got worse. Sunday night in Tampa, the home team Lightning jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first period and the Ducks couldn't recover. They eventually lost 5-3. To add insult to injury or more accurately injury to insult; Anaheim goalie Frederik Andersen was forced to leave the game due to an injury. Andersen suffered a concussion when the goal was knocked over in the third period and the crossbar hit him in the back of the head.
The downward spiral continued Tuesday night in South Florida against the Panthers. Andersen's concussion forced the Ducks to recall John Gibson from Norfolk to back up Bryzgalov. It didn't matter who started and who backed up because they were both bad. Add in the additional absences of Hampus Lindholm and Jakob Silfverberg and another bad loss, this time 6-2.
The five game, nine game road trip concludes tonight in Raleigh, North Carolina against the Hurricanes. As stated earlier, every NHL will hit a bump in the road from time to time; however good teams should beat the league's also-rans. This game isn't a must win, but it is most certainly a should win. John Gibson makes his first Duck start in goal since before Halloween. His relief appearance Tuesday did nothing to inspire confidence, but Gibson has a history of rocky outings in his first game action after a layoff. The guy is a competitor and he will be ready. Lindholm and Silfverberg are back in the lineup resulting in Rene Bourque and Eric Brewer watching tonight from the press box.
Here is tonight's expected lineup:
Forwards Maroon-Getzlaf-Perry Beleskey-Kesler-Palmieri Cogliano-Rakell-Silfverberg DSP-Thompson-Jackman
Defensmen Fowler-Lovejoy Lindholm-Beauchemin Stoner-Vatanen
Goalies Gibson Bryzgalov
I have many thoughts and insights about the Ducks leading up to the trade deadline. “Stay tuned… for a look at the forwards and goalies.
-Ed