Honestly, who could have predicted the amount of success the Anaheim Ducks would have through the first quarter plus of the 2013-14 season? They had been winning at an unimaginable pace. I never expected them to sustain that pace. I also didn't expect them to abandon what got them to that point so fast.
Over the last 10 games the team has cooled off considerably and head coach Bruce Boudreau believes he knows why.
"It's the work ethic; the work ethic has got get a lot better."
Anaheim is 3-34 in its last 10 games and since winning back-to-back games on November 22 and 23, the Ducks have gone 1-1-2, including a five-goal third period meltdown against the Dallas Stars which resulted in a disastrous 6-3 loss.
I think the loss to L.A. was the last straw for Bruce.
After falling to the Kings, Boudreau went back over the basics with his team at practice. He stressed winning the one-on-one battles and retaining possession of the puck. You know, Hockey 101 type of stuff.
His players better have been paying attention because tonight's opponent, the Chicago Blackhawks, won't make it easy on them.
*** DUCKS (18-7-5) at BLACKHAWKS (20-6-4)
Chicago (20-6-4) leads the Western Conference with 44 points and very much resembles a team poised to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions. The Ducks, who had been leading the conference and NHL for a large portion of the season and have their own Cup aspirations, are three points back and falling. (I know, depressing right?)
The Hawks are coming off back-to-back 4-3 losses, but are 7-3 in the last 10 games and will be looking to exact a little revenge against Anaheim. Last season the Ducks won all three meetings between these two clubs and that still stands out, in my mind, as the one glaring blemish on Chicago's run to the Cup.
Anaheim needs to bring its "A" game to the United Center. Chicago leads the entire NHL with 108 scored and a team, like the Ducks, that are struggling could very easily find themselves being overwhelmed in heartbeat.
I think tonight's games comes down to the Ducks playing like they did for the 20 games of the season and of course, the goaltending. Anaheim's goalie situation has been enviable to say the least and could be a difference making once again.
The Ducks have responded well to adversity all season (See the IR list). Let's see how they handle themselves now when the "W's" aren't coming as easy as they had been.
The puck drops at 5:00 PM tonight.
*** OTHER NOTES:
- Emerson Etem and David Steckel have been recalled from Norfolk. Etem had five points in three games with Norfolk of the AHL.
Mathieu Perreault was placed on the IR to make room for Steckel.
I'm not sure why Etem was sent down in the first place. Seemed pretty obvious to me that Anaheim missed his speed. Hopefully he brings some of that speed and AHL scoring touch back with him.
Perreault, Francois Beauchemin, Luca Sbisa, Jakob Silferberg and Viktor Fasth are all on the IR.
- Teemu Selanne's goal drought has reached 16 games. :(
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