Is this the bottom?

So I'm trying really hard to stay positive, keep my head up about this team, but MAN...they sure are making that difficult.

I discovered some things about the head-scratching Ducks.

This is probably the most disturbing.

After they were an NHL-best 11-14-2 when trailing after the first period last season, they are 0-10-1 in that category this season. OC Register

That's just INSANE. So basically, if the Ducks are losing after 1...feel free to turn the TV off...it's not going to happen.

One thing I want to mention is that Corey Perry has really shown up since returning from his suspension. Perry has 8 points in his last 6 games (check out his stats so far this season). I laughed on Saturday evening when both UJ and I were sporting our Perry shirts only to see him get 2 goals in that game. Fantastic. Things are clicking offensively, maybe not last night, and for the most part that end of the ice is being taken care of. Scoring is coming from many places and unlike last season where the Ducks were struggling offensively, this year, they are getting the puck in the net.

So whats missing?

It's time to suck it up and allow Jonas Hiller to be the starting goaltender right now. Is he playing stellar right now? Maybe not. Is he playing better than JS Giguere? Most definitely, and that's all that matters when you need something solid on the defensive end of things.

The Ducks are a team with an overwhelming number of inexperienced players right now (7; Bobby Ryan, Andrew Ebbett, Troy Bodie, Brendan Mikkelson, Drew Miller, Brett Festerling and Nathan McIver). In addition, they are missing many key players. I'd say that the absence of Francois Beauchemin being the most detrimental to the team. On the other hand, there would be no Bobby Ryan. Blessing in disguise? An unfortunate fortune? The question stands at this...would the Ducks be struggling so much if Beauchemin was still in the line up? Well, with the way the defense has been lately...maybe not.

I still don't know what needs to happen in order for the Ducks to turn this season around. I think that the emphasis in terms of growth needs to be placed on the blue line. With a stronger blue line, maybe they get stronger goaltending and maybe they'll have a chance at winning...even after being down at the end of the first period. Even though I read rumors...I hate them, but this one has been flying around just in case you haven't seen it yet. Chris Pronger as a potential trade. What do you think?

GO DUCKS!