Gamer: Ducks Still Can't Find The Back Of The Net

As a preseason Cup favorite featuring two All-Star forwards and a wide variety of depth players, the start to the Anaheim Ducks' season seems inconceivable.  Coming into this contest with Minnesota the Ducks had managed a meager 6 goals in 6 games and only 2 goals in their 5 losses.  Anaheim was hoping to get some momentum on the road trip by facing the one team they had managed to beat this season. Unfortunately, things did not go well for the Ducks.

Frederik Andersen got the start in goal after Anton Khudobin allowed 5 goals on 29 shots in a loss to the Nashville Predators. Andersen stopped the first 11 shots he faced and 27 of 30 overall, including a SportsCenter worthy stop on Matt Dumba that prevented the Minnesota defender from burying the puck into a wide open net.  That turned out to be the only good thing that happened for the Ducks.

The Wild were the dominant team in the first period, outshooting the Ducks 15-3. However, Dumba was the only Minnesota player to find the back of the net, lifting a backhand shot passed Andersen on the short side late in the first period. Dumba worked a give and go along the boards with Jason Zucker, and found himself alone at the bottom of the face-off circle.

Despite being dramatically outshot, the Ducks were only down one goal heading into the second period, but the second period was once again their undoing. They were whistled for four minor penalties in the first 11 minutes of the period, which prevented them from putting together any kind of offensive pressure to get themselves back in the game. At the end of the fourth penalty, Thomas Vanek whistled a shot passed Andersen, who was being screened by Nino Niederreiter . the Ryan Carter would finish the scoring by burying a 2 on1 chance during the Ducks first power play of the game.

There were flashes of offense for the Ducks, and Shawn Horcoff had a goal taken away in the first period because he kicked it into the net. the Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Carl Hagelin found themselves in a few scrums around the net that showed promise. Still, the power play was completely ineffective and the Ducks are now averaging less than 1.00 goal per game.  This is a team that entered the season with Cup aspirations, and now can't seem to even get a win.