Reasons Abound for Team’s Skid

So what’s wrong with the Ducks, winners of only four of their past 18 games?

“I think we’re playing too soft,� captain Paul Kariya said. “There’s no hitting. We’re too passive.�

Said Teemu Selanne: “We don’t play as a team right now. The forwards don’t help the defense enough. The defense makes too many mistakes. The goalies didn’t stop anything [in Friday’s 6-2 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes].�

Added Coach Pierre Page: “We looked like a team that was thinking too much, worrying too much and feeling sorry for itself.�

They agree the solutions are relatively simple, but getting the desired results has been difficult lately. In the past five games, the Ducks are 1-4 and have been outscored, 24-12.

“We’ve got to get back to a low-scoring game,� Kariya said. “We’ve got to work on our defense. We’ve got to have the defense and the forwards blocking shots.�

Said Selanne: “We have to keep our game simple and we have to be more disciplined too. I think we’ve got to get the emotion back and play with big hearts.�

Added Page: “I think we’re playing Teemu and Paul a lot, but you need people who are going to accept their roles and be productive. I remember Guy Lapointe [Page’s assistant last season in Calgary] saying, ‘You might only play four minutes, but those might be the four most important minutes of the hockey game.’ �

Selanne said he hoped a strong third period against Phoenix would carry over to tonight.

“We have two games left before the Christmas break, and I really expect we are going to win both games,� Selanne said.

TONIGHT

vs.

San Jose

* 5

* Channel 9

Site--The Pond.

Radio--KRLA 1110, KCKC 1350.

Records--Ducks 12-17-6, Sharks 13-18-4.

Record vs. Sharks--0-2.

Update--Teemu Selanne has 25 goals and 21 assists in 24 games against the Sharks. He had three goals in the first period of the Ducks’ 6-4 loss to San Jose at the Pond on Nov. 10. Energetic winger Warren Rychel hopes to play tonight after missing Friday’s loss to the Phoenix Coyotes because of a groin strain. Defenseman Jason Marshall is expected to be sidelined several games after suffering a shoulder injury when he was blindsided by Phoenix defenseman Jim McKenzie.