A rested flock was set to return to the ice after the holiday break as the Ducks geared up to dive headlong into a back-to-back set at home that would see them opposed by the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday and the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday. After last Sunday’s dramatic comeback against Utah HC capped a spurt of three wins in four games, a competitive effort in Vegas in their fourth game in six nights fell short against the Pacific Division-pacing Golden Knights on Monday. In a game where shots on goal, shot attempts and other possession metrics were roughly even, the Ducks’ 0-for-4 performance on the power play loomed large.
That was especially true since it was part of a broader stretch that has seen them go 1-for-19 while also allowing their only two five-on-four goals this season, including one against Vegas. They’ve been outscored narrowly overall, 16-14, in the five games they’ve played during that span. “We’ve got to get the power play going.
That has been sputtering along,” Coach Greg Cronin told reporters. “When you do get power-play goals, it actually generates some offensive confidence, five-on-five. There’s a lot of frustration on the bench when they don’t score, particularly when we’re not getting a lot of chances and the other team’s getting shorthanded goals and shorthanded chances.
” The Ducks were also shorthanded on Sunday in a different fashion, as they lost forward Brock McGinn (lower-body) and goalie John Gibson (upper-body) early.