Recap: Carlyle Challenges Ducks After Loss to Blues

by

After having won six of their last seven outings, the Anaheim Ducks were brought back to earth on Sunday night, falling to the St. Louis Blues 2-1 in overtime thanks to Patrik Berglund’s second goal of the night. A lackluster effort the night before in Arizona may have foreshadowed the way things would go against the Blues just a day later. The Ducks were outplayed for the better part of the night, handily losing the shot attempt battle 44-32 at even strength.

http://gty.im/631783992
Rickard Rakell scored once again, bringing him just two goals shy of his career high of 20 in just 35 games played. Ryan Getzlaf committed a defensive gaffe in the overtime portion of the game, losing a foot-race to the Anaheim net, allowing St. Louis an easy tap-in for the game winner. Kevin Bieksa had another rough outing, posting an impossibly bad 18.52 percent Corsi at even strength.

Ducks’ head coach Randy Carlyle’s voice had a disdainful tone after the game, declaring that it was “a man’s game” out there against the Blues and that his young players ought to learn from it. Though he wouldn’t explicitly say it, he strongly hinted that the smaller and weaker competition his team has faced of late had some part to play in the defeat.

https://twitter.com/AnaheimDucks/status/820874627245187073

There might be something to that, though it might not be to Carlyle’s liking. Anaheim’s only loss this month before Sunday had come against the only playoff team they have faced in the Minnesota Wild. St. Louis presented a true measuring stick for the Ducks, and they quite obviously fell short, leaving one to wonder just how ready this club is to tango with the elite teams in the Western Conference.

First Period

The fact that both teams played the night before was awfully apparent in the opening, as they combined for an underwhelming nine shots on goal.

https://twitter.com/AnaheimDucks/status/820824165267566592

Anaheim had a four-minute power play to end the period but looked listless, unable to muster any sort of sustained pressure. The Ducks’ man advantage has struggled so far in 2017, and the first period did nothing to abate that.

Second Period

The middle act saw a surge in activity, just not one that the Ducks particularly enjoyed. St. Louis upped the pressure on the forecheck, resulting in an 18 -10 shot attempt advantage for the Blues.

That consistent pressure eventually came to a head, as Patrik Berglund banged in an awkward carom off the Anaheim end boards to beat Gibson to the near post. The Blues would take the lead into the intermission.

Third Period

Things got off to a sweltering start in the third stanza. Just a shade over five minutes into the period, Rickard Rakell buried a rebound from a blistering Ryan Getzlaf slap shot, sending the Honda Center crowd into a frenzy.

https://twitter.com/AnaheimDucks/status/820846036117639168

St. Louis would once again carry the play throughout the period, however, edging Anaheim 16-13 in the shot attempt count. A late Nick Ritchie penalty almost proved costly. The Ducks’ penalty kill was up to the task, limiting St. Louis’s chances and sending the game to overtime.

Overtime

The overtime period has been a nightmare for Anaheim all season long, and Sunday night was no different. St. Louis would gain control of the puck early, cycling it around the Ducks’ zone long enough for them to eventually make a mistake.

That mistake would come in the form of a blown coverage from Getzlaf, who allowed his man, Berglund, to cut to the net untouched and ultimately tuck away a pretty feed from Jaden Schwartz.  Anaheim will surely live with scrapping out a point against one of the Western Conference’s better teams, but they were once again stuck explaining why they struggle so badly at three-on-three.

Scoring Summary

FIRST PERIOD

No scoring

SECOND PERIOD

STL– Patrik Berglund (9) assisted by Robby Fabri(17) & David Perron (13)

THIRD PERIOD

ANA – Rickard Rakell (18) assisted by Ryan Getzlaf (28) & Korbinian Holzer (5)

OVERTIME

STL – Patrik Berglund (10) assisted by Jaden Schwartz (13)

THW Three Stars

First: Patrik Berglund (two goals)

Second: Carter Hutton (.957 save percentage)

Third: Rickard Rakell (one goal)

NEXT UP

Ottawa Senators at St. Louis Blues

Scottrade Center – 7:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday, January 17

Broadcast channels – TSN, FSMW

2016-17 Season Series: First matchup of the season

NEXT UP

Tampa Bay Lightning at Anaheim Ducks

Honda Center– 7:00 p.m. PST on Tuesday, January 17

Broadcast channels – PT25 & SUN

2016-17 Season Series: First matchup of the season