A five-game losing skid knocked the Anaheim Ducks from top spot in the Pacific Division and left them looking for answers as they prepare to host the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.
The Ducks (41-31-5, 87 points) were in the driver’s seat before a swoon that was extended with a 5-3 loss on Saturday to the Calgary Flames.
Instead of holding the upper hand in the final sprint to a division title, the Ducks sit second in the division, tied with the Edmonton Oilers (39-29-9, 87 points) but trailing due to the tiebreaker.
Anaheim also is one point ahead of the third-place Vegas Golden Knights (35-26-16, 87 points). All three clubs have five games remaining in the regular season.
“We’ve got to figure it out now,” Ducks forward Leo Carlsson said of his team’s situation. “I know that we’re a good team, too. Just got to figure it out.”
The Ducks are in a strong position to clinch a berth in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in eight years, and their solid season has them looking for more.
But instead of punching their ticket and pulling away in the battle for a division title, they have been hindered by porous defensive play at the wrong time of the season.
Anaheim has surrendered 24 goals in its five-game skid. Against the Flames, the Ducks were victimized by a handful of breakaway chances allowed.
“We’re missing a lot of different guys, that not necessarily are the scorers, but they were guys that were playing a real solid team game,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “That’s one thing we’ve got to tighten up, no matter who’s in the lineup.”
The Ducks may receive one player back. Defenseman Pavel Mintyukov (lower body), who has missed four of the past five games due to injury, practiced on Monday.
The Predators arrive in Anaheim also after being knocked out of a desired position in the Western Conference. .
Nashville (36-31-10, 82 points) suffered a 3-2 shootout loss at the hands of the Los Angeles Kings (32-26-19, 83 points) on Monday, flipping the teams’ positions in the wild-card race with five games left. The Kings now hold the second wild card, with the Predators on the outside.
Lurking one point back are the San Jose Sharks (37-32-7, 81 points), who have a game in hand with six games remaining.
The only thing that is certain is that Anaheim and Nashville both need to bank as many points as possible.
“It’s going to be another fun game,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette told the team’s website. “They’re probably pretty angry (with where) they’re at the last few games. It will be another playoff-type game, and I expect our group to be ready to go.”
Predators captain Roman Josi said the Ducks are a challenge.
“Anaheim is obviously one of those young, really fast teams and having a great season,” he said.
“Every game is a playoff game. They’re fighting for their spot in their standings. We’re fighting for a playoff spot.”
Nashville forward Steven Stamkos scored for a third consecutive game and eight times in nine outings, which gives him 39 on the season.
The Ducks have won four straight meetings and six of the past seven clashes against the Predators. The teams meet again in Anaheim on April 16, the regular-season finale for both.
