Anaheim Ducks lack shooting power, lose 3-1 to Columbus Blue Jackets -NHL Match Update
Anaheim continued to struggle as they lost their second straight matchup of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season to the hardship stricken, Columbus Blue Jackets, 3-1, on Sunday, October 30, 2011, at the Nation Wide Arena in Columbus,
Ohio, United States.
Columbus is the lowest ranking team in the entire league at the moment as it has managed to pick up only five points ever since the season kicked off, one from a match that when into a shootout and the other four due to their two wins during their past 12
contests.
Blue Jackets head coach, Scott Arniel, is certainly disappointed with how his team has performed to end the month of October, but is hopeful that November will bring change for his team.
"When we play with a little bit of any edge, when we play like we're (ticked) off, when we play in the hard areas and go there first ... that's usually when better things happen for us", Blue Jackets coach, Scott Arniel, said about the things that bring
his team into winning mode.
Steve Mason, Columbus’ 23-year-old goalie, nearly achieved his first shutout of the season by blocking 19 out of 20 shots. Dan Ellis for Anaheim remained short on three attempts by Columbus and diverted only 18 shots.
Having had a good start to the new season, Anaheim Ducks head coach, Randy Carlyle, believes he has identified what is keeping his team from winning during these past few contests.
"We seem to be over-passing and putting the puck in a different area," he said of his team, which has lost five of six. "Where it's less of an angle or less of an opportunity to score", Carlyle said.
Blue Jackets captain, Rick Nash, scored his fourth of the season during an early power play opportunity as Anaheim lost Saku Koivu and Teemu Selanne due to boarding and high-sticking respectively.
Bobby Ryan added the only Anaheim goal to end the period.
Ryan Johansen and Fedor Tyutin added two straight goals during the second period nearly 10 minutes apart to not only extend the lead but also secure the match.
Ducks have three games remaining on their road trip schedule, the next being in Washington against the Capitals on Tuesday, while the Blue Jackets return home to face the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.
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