ANAHEIM — The damage was self-inflicted and continuous in the Ducks’ ninth loss of the season.
Their porous penalty kill has been a season-long issue and it was found wanting again as the Minnesota Wild defeated the Ducks, 4-1, on Wednesday night at Honda Center. Kirill Kaprizov scored his ninth and 10th goals of the season, both via the power play, the second one on a 5-on-3.
Wild defenseman Matt Dumba’s goal turned out to be the game-winner, breaking a 1-1 tie at 1:41 of the third period. The other Wild goal came from a former Duck, Joseph Cramarossa, who played the first 49 games of his NHL career in Anaheim.
Additionally, the Ducks played the third period with only four healthy defensemen after Kevin Shattenkirk left the game with a lower-body injury and Nathan Beaulieu suffered an upper-body injury. Defenseman John Klingberg logged nearly 30 minutes of ice time, and defenseman Dmitry Kulikov played just over 27 minutes.
“Losing two defensemen and continuing to take penalties is not a recipe for success,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said. “I thought the game was going along just fine. We finally got our feet underneath us after the first period. Had a really good second period.
“Took a reaching, offensive-zone penalty to put us down. I felt for our D. We only had four guys. It’s extremely hard in this league. That’s game management. We can’t continue to go to the penalty box when we’re two guys short on the back end. And especially have two defensemen go to the penalty box as well.”
Shattenkirk only logged two shifts in the second period.
“It started to aggravate him in the game,” Eakins said. “It went south quickly.”
As of Wednesday, the Ducks’ penalty kill was ranked 31st in the league, only ahead of the Vancouver Canucks.
Said defenseman Cam Fowler: “We’ve been saying a lot of the right things but our results and what we’re doing on the ice isn’t where we need it to be. That’s just a product of letting the game get away from you a little bit. Putting yourself in penalty trouble against any team is a recipe for disaster.
“Being shorthanded on the back (end) plays a role in that too. Our guys stayed in it. It was just difficult taking those penalties.”
The Ducks (4-9-1) gave up four straight goals, including three in the third period, after holding a 1-0 lead, on Pavol Regenda’s goal at 13:24 of the second period. It was the first goal of Regenda’s NHL career and one to remember – a pure goal-scorer’s goal as he beat Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson with a wrist shot on the glove side.
Credit, also, had to go to Frank Vatrano who had the patience and vision to find the trailer (Regenda) on the play.
“It was great, a great pass from Frankie,” Regenda said. “I’m really happy for that. I feel bad we lost the game….It would be better if we win the game.”
Regenda, as it turned out, was in the lineup because Ducks forward Adam Henrique was not. Henrique and his wife are expecting their first child. So the Ducks called up Regenda from their minor-league affiliate in San Diego and this was his sixth NHL game. He had two goals and two assists in four games with the Gulls.
The most electrifying moment of the game, well, maybe of the season, for the Ducks was erased, to the dismay of the crowd. It had appeared as though Trevor Zegras had pulled off another “Michigan” lacrosse-style goal early in the second period.
Minnesota challenged and the goal was taken off the board for offsides earlier in the play. So it was Michigan Recalled … just a hint of the way the night would end up going for the Ducks.
Eakins said he doesn’t make a habit of going into the dressing room after games, maybe seven or eight times a season.
“I think it’s one of those places where, when you win, it’s important for them to be tight and be together,” he said. “And when we lose, I think it’s important that certain things are said in there without coaches around.”
Eakins had been under the weather and missed practice on Tuesday. Asked how he was faring now, Eakins responded, “Well, I feel better, medically.”
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