Ducks try to bounce back

The symbolic thing to do would have been tracking down any videotape to pile up in the Honda Center parking lot and set aflame in a bonfire.

Instead, the Ducks were forced to watch their sins play out again in a review of their shocking 4-0 Game 1 blowout loss to the Dallas Stars to open the Western Conference quarterfinals.

This is how they dealt with the aftermath.

“It is a little tough to watch,� forward Travis Moen said. “Usually when you watch it on video, it makes it look worse.�

It wasn’t punishment, at least according to center Todd Marchant. In the Ducks’ case, it was an attempt to recognize what all went wrong which can’t be duplicated in tonight’s Game 2 at Honda Center.

“If you look into our room, we’re not feeling very good about ourselves,� Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle said. “Rightfully so with the performance we brought last night.

“But that’s last night. We can’t change what happened last night but we sure can make an impression in the next one.�

An issue that dogged them during the eight meetings with the Stars in the regular season has turned into a full-fledged problem.

The four power-play goals given up by the Ducks were the most they’ve given up in 72 postseason games. Between the regular season and playoffs, Dallas has converted on 13 of 30 opportunities in their six victories.

It was an embarrassing performance for anyone associated with the penalty-killing unit as the Ducks erased only three of the seven disadvantages they faced. Chris Pronger and Samuel Pahlsson were on the ice for three of the goals while Scott Niedermayer and Todd Marchant were out there for two.

The four are among the team’s top penalty killers and part of a group that was a respectable 12th in the NHL with an 83.1% efficiency rate. They’ll have to bounce back immediately.

“That’s a huge area for us to correct,� Marchant said. “We have pretty much the same personnel killing the penalties that we’ve had for the last three years.

“When you give a team time and space, especially on the power play, they’re going to pick you apart. We did that last night. We gave them way too much time with the puck.�

It was also a long game for assistant coach Dave Farrish, who runs the penalty kill. Farrish said he didn’t get much sleep but added that he doesn’t get a lot of rest at this time of the year.

“Our team has a lot of pride and that’s one of the things that we pride ourselves in is our board work and our execution in those things,� he said. “We just weren’t up to the challenge last night. Too much hesitation. For some reason, the focus wasn’t there that you need at this level.�

The Stars were effective at throwing passes across the slot to wingers that slid into open spaces for one-time shots. Loui Eriksson, Jere Lehtinen and Brenden Morrow all scored in that fashion as centers Mike Ribeiro and Brad Richards were allowed to make plays in the Ducks’ zone without much duress.

“They’ve got some forwards that like to hang onto the puck down low and then they pop out the other guy in the slot,� Moen said. “Us forwards at the top, we’ve got to recognize that and drop down and pick him up. It’s something I’m sure we’ll talk over today and tomorrow.�

There is also the issue of the penalties themselves, which isn’t new.

For the second consecutive season, the Ducks led the NHL in penalty minutes. Fighting majors, which they also led the league in, inflate the total but they aren’t the problem.

The Ducks took 11 minor penalties after pledging that they would show discipline. Even mild-mannered Teemu Selanne took a rare roughing penalty after getting into a skirmish with Dallas defenseman Philippe Boucher.

“When you’re in the playoffs, it doesn’t matter if you’re a veteran, if you’re a rookie or if you’re a sophomore. Whatever you are,� Carlyle said. “You cannot play without discipline. The discipline that we displayed, or lack of it, was evident throughout our lineup.�

It would help if the Ducks do anything offensively, especially early in the game.

Changes could take place in their lineup. Doug Weight, who was a Game 1 scratch, skated with Chris Kunitz and Teemu Selanne during Friday’s practice. Ryan Carter centered the fourth line instead of Brian Sutherby, who was one of several guilty of taking bad penalties in the offensive zone.

Scoring first may be imperative. The Stars have shown the ability to jump ahead and deliver a knockout punch, having won other games against Anaheim during the season by scores of 3-1, 5-0, 5-2 and 4-2.

The Ducks insist that they have moved on from their debacle.

“It could be a lot worse,� Marchant said. “We could have played the best game we could possibly play and still lost. And then you’re scratching your head saying what have we got to do.

“If you’re going to lose a game, that might be the best way to lose it. Everyone in this locker room knows they can do better.�

If they don’t, it could be another long video session.

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Penalty phase

A breakdown of the Ducks’ penalty killing against Dallas in the nine meetings this season, including Thursday’s playoff game (PK-penalties killed; PP-power plays; *12th in league):

*--* VS. DALLAS PK-PP PCT IN THREE WINS 15-15 100% IN SIX LOSSES 17-30 56.7% REGULAR SEASON 29-38 76.3% GAME 1 3-7 42.9% REST OF NHL 310-370 83.7% SEASON TOTAL 339-408 *83.1% 2007 PLAYOFFS 105-121 86.8% *--*