Lack of Scoring Is Heart of Problem

With 38 games remaining and a choppy February schedule ahead, the Mighty Ducks understand that their hopes of making a run for the playoffs are vanishing fast.

The Ducks are 13-23-5-3 and 12 points away from the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference. Coach Bryan Murray remains optimistic but he also has been around long enough to know that the Ducks simply do not score enough to reach the postseason.

“This is a hard part for us because we know the level of team we should be or could be,” Murray said. “I tell the guys all the time, I think our effort, defensive play and attitude has been very good. We just haven’t scored.

“I don’t think our playoff chances are fading at this point but I will tell you that we have to win some games now. We have to get a streak going. We still have a chance but we have to get over a hurdle.”

The Ducks have scored only 94 goals this season, the second-lowest total in the Western Conference, and have lost 13 games by a goal.

“It’s pretty frustrating when they are not going in, especially when we are one goal away every game,” said leading scorer Paul Kariya, who has only 13 goals this season.