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The Anaheim Ducks suffered another blowout loss last night, falling 6-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning to extend their losing streak to six games.
John Klingberg was out with a lower-body injury, so Colton White came back into the lineup, while Lukas Dostal got the start.
The Ducks actually came out with a pretty decent first period once again, even if they couldn’t capitalize. They outshot the Lightning 12-9 and especially through the first 10 minutes, they were generating some great chances.
The second period, however, can only be classified as an absolute disaster. While it took a bit of time, the Lightning opened the scoring seven minutes into the period, courtesy of Nick Paul off a shot on a rush. Then only a couple minutes later, Ross Colton wired a shot in on a power play, extending the lead. Tampa Bay kept pressing, and only a minute after Colton’s goal, Anthony Cirelli took a pass in front and went to the backhand to beat Dostal, making it a three-goal game. It just kept getting worse, and shortly after, Zach Bogosian scored from the point, marking the Lightning’s fourth goal in under six minutes.
It was an embarrassing period, with the Ducks being outshot by a ridiculous 22-1 margin and finding themselves down 4-0. It’s another case of the Ducks putting together a good frame, only to completely fall off the wagon later on.
Things got worse from there, with Brayden Point scoring a minute into the third period on a power play. Then only about a minute after that, Corey Perry tipped in a shot in-close to make it a 6-0 game. Ryan Strome did get the Ducks on the board later on, but they still ended up taking a brutal 6-1 loss.
It’s another bad defeat for the Ducks, marking the fifth time in six games Anaheim has allowed at least six goals. That's now 36 goals against over their six-game losing streak in total, as they sit dead last in the league in goals against per game.
Anaheim really only had one awful period in this loss, but it was bad enough to completely sink them. It’s been a consistent trend, but the Ducks can struggle to get out of their end and then when they do, they don’t have a talented enough forward group to be counted on for difficult entries or sustained pressure in the offensive zone. Then considering how easily they give up entries off the rush, it can make for long stretches spent in their own end.
I’m also almost starting to think the Ducks should play Dostal as little as possible at this point. As much as he is a top prospect, he’s still just 22 years old and you have to think getting lit up night after night isn’t helping his confidence. Obviously, this was a back-to-back so it’s a bit of a different story, but the organization has to develop him properly, and this certainly isn’t the best way to get him adjusted to the NHL.
The Ducks will try to end their losing streak on Thursday, when they face the Washington Capitals.
OTHER ARTICLES FROM FEBRUARY
Where do the Ducks go from here?
Ducks battle back against Stars but fall in shootout
Ducks defeat Blackhawks in overtime to wrap up back-to-back set
Ducks give up 59 shots in loss to Penguins
Ducks on losing streak, have allowed 20 goals over last three games
Who will the Ducks trade before the deadline?
Ducks’ skid reaches four games with loss to Kings
Ducks blow two-goal lead, give up 55 shots in OT loss to Panthers 
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