Takeaways: A One-Line Team Again

1. The days of the Ducks being a one-line team have come and gone and come again. It's been 15 games since Teemu Selanne has scored a goal, and he has one assist in that stretch. He rang one off the iron against Calgary, but who's counting? Kyle Palmieri has two points, both assists, in his last twelve games. Mathieu Perreault has two assists and no goals in his last 13 games. Right now, the Ducks are doing what they did between the day Andy McDonald was traded and the beginning of last season: relying on Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry to win all of their games.

2. Saku Koivu's line is the second best on the team right now. They're not burying a whole lot of chances, but they are creating them, which means whoever they're matched up against — usually the opponent's top line — isn't dominating. In other words, they are doing a good job for a checking line, but not for a scoring line. And the Ducks need another scoring line. Nick Bonino has looked a lot better than Mathieu Perreault lately. How about him, Palmieri, and Selanne? Or maybe bring down Dustin Penner to play with Bonino and Palmieri or Selanne? And how about bringing back one or both of Emerson Etem and Devante Smith-Pelly and sitting Tim Jackman and/or Patrick Maroon?

3. In the silver lining department, the penalty kill has been awesome as of late. They've killed 15 in a row, and none were better than the overtime 4 on 3 in San Jose. That one started off with a great shift by Getzlaf, Daniel Winnik, and Cam Fowler. Yes, that's right. Two forwards, one D. Because . . .

4. The injury situation can only get better from this point. If it was any worse, we might see Frederik Andersen on the blue line. Bryan Allen and Francois Beauchemin are both close to returning. Allen in particular might even play in Tuesday's game. Congratulations to Alex Grant on his first NHL goal, but his time with the big club is just about up for this season. [Ed Note- KNOCK ON WOOD!!!! KNOCK ON WOOD!!!!!!! - Kyle]

5. If Jonas Hiller cost the Ducks the game in San Jose, then so did Cam Fowler. Missing an empty net has the same result on the scoreboard as surrendering an empty net goal. Either you don't add a point to your score which you should have, or you add a point to the opponent's score which you shouldn't have. And let me be clear: I do not consider Cam Fowler the reason the Ducks lost that game.

6. Bob Murray needs to acquire a second line center if he wants this team to go deep this season. Anyone want to take a look at offensively gifted centers in the last year of their contracts on struggling teams? How about Mike Cammalleri? Nah, too expensive. But David Legwand? Just a thought.