The Anaheim Ducks have won only one of their last four games as they get ready to play against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday.
That’s the negative side.
However, the Ducks see it more positively, considering they are 5-3-1 in their last nine games. They also feel their recent loss wasn’t so bad because they played well against their biggest rivals.
As the Ducks prepare for the Senators, they are coming off a 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Friday, which started their four-game homestand. The Ducks were leading in the game at one point, but couldn’t hold off the Kings, despite outshooting them 31-18, including 12-4 in the third period.
“We had the puck maybe more than we have had in the past against these guys,” Ducks forward Ryan Strome said. “In the past, I feel like we have been on our heels and they kind of come in waves at us. … We were kind of pushing the pace on them.”
The Ducks are not likely to make the playoffs but have shown signs of improvement, especially on defense. The team has struggled with allowing goals in the last two seasons, finishing in the bottom three, but their defense has been much stronger recently. The Ducks are now ranked 10th in goals-against and have been perfect on the penalty kill in their last six games.
“The last 10 or 11 games we haven’t had too many stinkers,” coach Greg Cronin said. “We had some, maybe, periods that were off, but I think for the most part we’ve played really well as a group.”
The Senators arrive in Anaheim after losing 5-2 to the Kings on Saturday, ending their short two-game winning streak, which followed a five-game losing streak (0-4-1).
“I like that we play (Sunday) night. When you play a game that stings a little bit, you don’t like to sit around and wait,” Ottawa coach Travis Green said.
The Senators desperately need a winning streak to get back into playoff contention. They had a chance to win against the Kings when they were leading 2-1 early in the second period, but then they gave up four unanswered goals.
“It’s frustrating,” defenseman Travis Hamonic said. “We felt at parts we played a really good game. But we’ve got to turn the page.”
Green believes his team played better against the Kings than in their win against the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday, which started their three-game road trip. But some defensive mistakes cost them the game.
“It should sting,” Green said. “I’m pretty open and honest with our team after the game, and my assessment was … we played hard enough to get a point or get a win, but we made a couple mistakes that I don’t think were from them earning the goal.”
There is some good news for the Senators. Tim Stutzle scored a goal, extending his point streak to six games with three goals and five assists. Adam Gaudette has also scored in three straight games and has already matched his career-high with 12 goals.
But despite these individual streaks, the team needs to win to be successful.
“It’s the unfortunate reality that we have to get that angry with losing that things will change,” captain Brady Tkachuk said. “To be able to move on and focus on the task at hand is a good opportunity for us. It’s an opportunity to finish the road trip off right.”
