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Anaheim Ducks still stuck in neutral after 'average' road trip

Josh Cooper
TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 21: Clayton Stoner #3 the Anaheim Ducks reacts to a goal by the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period at the Amalie Arena on November 21, 2015 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/NHLI via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 21: Clayton Stoner #3 the Anaheim Ducks reacts to a goal by the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period at the Amalie Arena on November 21, 2015 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/NHLI via Getty Images)

A quarter of the way into the NHL season, the Anaheim Ducks are still stuck in neutral.

After a 5-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, the Ducks finished a four-game road trip at 2-2-0 – each win was followed by a loss.

Anaheim is currently 7-10-4 and ranks fifth in the Pacific Division, four points behind the Vancouver Canucks for third, and the final divisional playoff spot.

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Last season, the Ducks owned the third period, outscoring their opponents 85-71. This was a major part of their formula that led to them landing the Western Conference’s top seed in the 2014-15 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

This season they’ve allowed 14 third period goals and scored the same amount.

Forward Ryan Kesler was the most critical after the defeat at Tampa, which saw the Ducks fall apart midway through the second period when they allowed two Steven Stamkos goals in a 1:14 span. Kesler questioned why the Ducks can’t muster the same type of comeback magic this year.

Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register pointed out how the Ducks’ problems have all flowed from the second period this season.

The Ducks went in the other direction. They continue to be horrendous in the second after allowing the most goals in that period last season. Opponents now have a 28-8 edge and their poor play has often killed any fine work they do in the opening 20 minutes.

The Ducks will play seven of their next eight games at Honda Center, which could be an opportunity to improve on their record. The Ducks rank 29th in the NHL, scoring 1.76 goals per-game. They rank 15th in goals allowed at 2.57 per-game.

The team's offensive stars have also been misfiring. Corey Perry leads the team with 12 points (five goals) in 21 games, and one point in his last four contests. Captain Ryan Getzlaf has nine points in 17 games.

General manager Bob Murray has preached patience for the group, that one or two bad stretches of play won’t lead to rash personnel decisions.

Kesler called the road trip “average” and chalked up the poor feeling to the second period.

Said Kesler, “I think we just got to throw this game in the garbage and move on. Been playing some pretty good hockey of late. The second period killed us.”

The Ducks went to Game 7 of the Western Conference Final in 2015, losing to the Chicago Blackhawks. They're considered a Stanley Cup favorite this season. 

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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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