Ducks Avoid Wild Repeat
December 30th, 2009 by ckoberThe Ducks and Wild finished up their season series last night with a 4-2 Ducks win. Each team won their home games, but in another year the Ducks would have been able to close out the games in Minnesota and sweep the season series.
The losses in Minnesota were certainly low points of the season thus far for the Ducks, and last night’s game had all the hallmarks of another painful lost lead. The Ducks came out on fire taking the game to Minnesota in the first, followed by a much more even second period and lead by two goals going into the third. Then they sat back and trapped for the whole final period only putting three shots on goal and took three consecutive penalties.
The difference came in the defensive execution, the ability to match lines better at home, and the mental toughness not to fall apart defensively after giving up an early third period goal to Kim Johnsson.
While the two losses in Minnesota this year are indicative of the new inconsistent Ducks team, Ducks fans can only hope that last night’s game was a sign of a turn around for this season.
With Teemu Selanne and Ryan Getzlaf coming back into the lineup shortly and Bobby Ryan and Dan Sexton stepping up in their absence there is reason to be optimistic, but so far all they have been able to do is hover. Only time will tell if they can take the next step in the New Year.
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