Ducks Get Something Out of Loss

The Ducks played the Kings Monday night. This was the only NHL game scheduled, making it our own little Freeway Series. The Pond was at least a third empty. The Ducks deserved better. Then worse. Then better. Then worse.

Down 4-2 after two periods, having played tentative, listless, emotionless hockey, the Ducks found stars where they usually have journeymen and earned a point when they should have had none.

The Kings ended up with a 5-4 overtime win. Ziggy Palffy scored a power play goal 1:04 into the extra time. Niclas Havelid had lifted a stick too high 38 seconds earlier and was sent to the penalty box. So the Ducks missed out on what would have been a triumphant tie or an exhilarating win. But the point earned for the regulation tie was critical.

With 10:24 left in the third period, Mike Leclerc scored to cut the Kings’ lead to 4-3. With 3:20 left, Leclerc stood his ground in front of Kings’ goalie Jamie Storr, dug out a puck, gave it to Marty McInnis who saw half the net empty.

Goal.

For the 30-year-old McInnis it was a hat trick. For the Ducks it was a manhood point earned. What seemed to have been a discouraging loss turned into a loss with a point attached. If this wasn’t a shining triumph or even an acceptable tie against a team it has dominated over the last 18 months, Anaheim showed some inner strength.

This is the kind of point which could be crucial in March. It is the kind of point that separates playoff teams from early vacationing teams.

For awhile the game showcased the attractions of Monday Night Football. Staying home to watch the Dolphins playing the Jets was much the better option then watching the Kings embarrass the Ducks. Staying home to get ready for Game 3 of the World Series was even a better option.

The Ducks came home from a five-game East Coast road trip on a high. Didn’t they? The Ducks came home from a five-game East Coast road trip where they went 3-1-1 and made some people believe they were starting to be a good hockey team.

Never mind.

The Ducks had won eight of the last 13 games against the Kings and instead of playing the part of the New York Yankees in this rivalry, they played the part of the Boston Red Sox. There was no fight, no energy, no enthusiasm on the part of the Ducks.

And the Kings weren’t that good either. Twice the Kings had a power play only to give it back within a minute. How stupid was that? Apparently not terribly because the Ducks weren’t going to take advantage.

This was such a good chance for the Ducks to prove something.

To prove that they could go on a roll, to take advantage of momentum, to bring some excitement into their arena, to convince all the skeptics who are staying home that the Ducks might turn into something special.

And the fans are skeptics. The announced attendance was 14,098 and that wasn’t close to the truth. Maybe 10,000, maybe 12,000 but not 14,000. If Ducks general manager Pierre Gauthier isn’t very afraid about those empty seats, he should be. The full houses at the Pond are gone. Maybe forever unless there is a winning team here, a team which just doesn’t crawl into the playoffs, a team which might win a playoff series or two.

For so much of the game it seemed the three worst jobs in the United States would have to be--in no particular order--defensive coach of the UCLA football team, the USC football team and the Mighty Ducks.

Kings left winger Tomas Vlasak scored his first-ever NHL goal in the second period. At least four Ducks, besides goalie Guy Hebert, could have stopped that goal. But that would have meant moving - moving an arm, a leg, a stick, something. No Duck moved and so the Kings took a 4-2 lead.

It is the Southern California way to play defense. Don’t get in the way of the other team. Don’t get hurt. Don’t be concerned about giving up points.

After that the Ducks didn’t mount a threat for a very long time. There was an eight-minute stretch in which Anaheim didn’t get off a shot.

The Kings didn’t get off many more than that either. The mind wandered aimlessly. Was it possible? Could it be there won’t be any playoff hockey in the Southland this season? How tough is that to accomplish? It’s not bad enough our two college football teams might go bowl-less and that one of our two NBA teams might never make the playoffs again.

But when you have two NHL teams ranked eighth (Ducks) and ninth (Kings) in the Western Conference, this is possible. In the end, the way the Ducks came back was important. The way both teams play Wednesday night at the Staples Center will be more important. Can the Ducks find momentum from the third period? Can the Kings use this desperate win to find their way?

It will be a game worth watching.

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Diane Pucin can be reached at her e-mail address: [email protected]