Coming off perhaps their most lackluster effort of the season, the Ducks rambled on to Canada’s capital for a throwdown with the Ottawa Senators.
It will hardly be a repeat of the 2007 Stanley Cup Final between these two clubs, as the Sens bring up the rear in the Atlantic Division and the Ducks are entrenched in second-to-last place in the Pacific. But Ottawa has won four straight games and its point total is eight greater than that of the Ducks.
The Ducks’ somnambulist effort in Montreal produced an anemic level of shots on net and a 5-0 loss to a Canadiens team that was fresh off a 7-2 loss to St. Louis.
“We were flat and passive. We watched Montreal beat us to loose pucks,” Coach Greg Cronin said via text.
“Ottawa is getting healthy and has depth now with a blend of size, speed and scoring. Their ‘D’ will add support to their offensive talent, allowing them to attack in waves,” he continued.
Ottawa forward Shane Pinto served a 41-game suspension related to gambling and has returned with a vengeance. His six points across Ottawa’s four-game surge tie captain Brady Tkachuk, who scored a hat trick against Columbus on Tuesday, for the team lead during that span.
The Ducks also got players back, albeit to little avail, as defenseman Pavel Mintyukov (shoulder) played for the first time since Jan. 9 and forward Mason McTavish (upper body) returned after a one-game absence. Winger Alex Killorn (knee) was on the trip and progressing toward a return.
The trend of adding bodies could quickly go in the other direction, even if the Ducks’ vexations on the injury front were to finally cease. The March 8 NHL trade deadline could mean more departures for the Ducks, who already dealt Jamie Drysdale for prospect Cutter Gauthier earlier this season.
One player Cronin expressed a desire to keep in the fold was Trevor Zegras. Zegras has been sidelined with a broken ankle since Jan. 9, but that has not prevented him from running a marathon through the…
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