Tired Ducks Fall to Coyotes in Shootout Loss

I hope you're sitting for this one...

I'm NOT disappointed in the Ducks loss Saturday night.

Yes, we're talking about a Ducks team desperately seeking victories, but we're also talking about a Ducks team in need of some confidence and consistent hockey on a regular basis.

For a group playing their second game of a back-to-back, the Ducks played solid for a majority of the game. Signs of fatigue were showing in the third period, but they were able to hold on strong, pushing the Phoenix Coyotes to overtime and the eventual shootout.

More importantly, the Ducks were able to get a second straight night out of Jonas Hiller, which will do a lot in terms of Hiller's personal confidence level, as well as pushing him one step closer to being the Ducks' number one goaltender. His back-to-back record is far from fantastic, however, stealing a point from the surprisingly good Coyotes is nothing to complain about.

While the overall game was a positive, there are some areas that the Ducks are still struggling with.

For example, the Ducks had numerous power play opportunities they were unable to convert on. For a team who was once straining to simply get set up on the man advantage, it was a push in the right direction to see them controlling the puck in their offensive zone for a change. However, to only find the net once on seven opportunities is a disappointment, and altogether frustrating for the team.

The power play simply needs more work, and the Phoenix penalty kill and Ilya Bryzgalov are fantastic.

On a more discouraging note, the Ducks are seemingly still facing an uphill battle with their second line. What seemed a positive enhancement with the singing of Saku Koivu and the return of Joffrey Lupul to play alongside Teemu Selanne, has for all purposes been a bust, as that line is having difficulties locating one another on the ice at times and can't seem to get much going offensively. They're often turning over the puck and seem to find themselves playing more defensive roles than necessary.

Let's face it, Selanne and Lupul aren't the guys you want out there when the team is in need of some "physical".

Something needs to spark that line. Maybe Randy Carlyle should reconsider this Selanne/Koivu second line marriage and split them up. Perhaps Lupul isn't the answer as the third man on that line, and instead the Ducks should look to a faster more physical Artyukhin, Ryan Carter, Mike Brown, or even revisit Erik Christensen on that left wing.

On a positive note, the first line is excelling thanks to the headstrong play of Corey Perry. He is continuing to show opposing defenders and goal tenders why he is the pest that they perceive him to be. Perry has been showing a great deal of patience and power in his game. Something maturity and experience are beginning to bring about. An offensive powerhouse on his own, fans might begin to wonder if a Ryan Getzlaf needs a Corey Perry to look good more so than the other way around.

Which brings me to this...

I know you were tired Ryan Getzlaf, but you couldn't find just a small surge of energy for your shootout attempt? Just a little something ? Hm, maybe next time.

GO DUCKS!!!