ON THIN ICE; FRUSTRATION SETS IN FOR CONFUSED DUCKS.Byline: Greg Christensen Staff Writer Their motto for the 1999-2000 season is ``taking the next step,'' but the reality is that the Mighty Ducks
Mighty Ducks is a half-hour Disney animated series aired on ABC and The Disney Afternoon in the fall of 1996. Twenty-six episodes total were produced. are a team on a road to nowhere as they head into one of the most crucial portions of their schedule. After flatlining their way to a 12-12-2-1 record in the first 26 games, the Ducks play the Kings, Phoenix, Vancouver and Colorado in the next seven days. The Kings and Coyotes are among the NHL NHL Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, see there leaders in points, and the Canucks and Avalanche are teams right in the midst Adv. 1. in the midst - the middle or central part or point; "in the midst of the forest"; "could he walk out in the midst of his piece?" midmost of the cutthroat cut·throat n. 1. A murderer, especially one who cuts throats. 2. An unprincipled, ruthless person. 3. A cutthroat trout. adj. 1. Cruel; murderous. 2. Western Conference playoff race. The Ducks go into tonight's game against the Kings suffering from an identity crisis. Are they indeed a team capable of taking that next step into the elite class of the NHL or just another .500 team? ``I would have never stayed here if I didn't think that (taking the next step) was the case,'' said goalie Guy Hebert Guy Andre Hebert (born January 7, 1967 in Troy, New York) is a former professional ice hockey goaltender. Always a proud American, he used the French pronunciation of his first and last names because it "sounded better." He played for the St. , who signed a multi-year contract late last season rather than test the free-agent market. ``The coaches see how good we can be. I'm sure they scratch their heads, and we go home and try to figure it out. ``Maybe we have to believe we are as good as we are.'' Maybe, but the Ducks haven't won more than two games in a row since Feb. 20-March 7 last season. Anaheim is 17-20-6-1 since, not including a four-game sweep at the hands of Detroit in the playoffs. Coach Craig Hartsburg Craig Hartsburg (born June 29, 1959 in Stratford, Ontario, Canada) is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman who played ten seasons with the Minnesota North Stars of the National Hockey League from 1979-80 until 1988-89. , however, says it's not a matter of the team's talent level. Blessed with two of the league's top players (Paul Kariya Paul Tetsuhiko Kariya (born October 16, 1974 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada), is a professional ice hockey player who plays for the St. Louis Blues. Personal life and Teemu Selanne), a top-flight goalie (Hebert), the Ducks have been a case study in inconsistency. As a result, they are at the .500 mark for the 10th time this season. Anaheim's 27 points after 26 games is the most in franchise history, but expectations were, and are, greater, especially with the addition of all-star Oleg Tverdovsky Oleg Tverdovsky (born May 18, 1976 in Donetsk, U.S.S.R. -- now Ukraine) is a professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for Ufa Salavat Yulayev of the Russian Super League. and Niclas Havelid on defense, and the added maturity of its younger players. ``It's the best talent, the best depth we've had,'' Hartsburg said. ``Now we have to become the best team. ``We have to be tired of being mediocre at some time. I know I am, the assistant coaches are, the trainers are, management is. Now it's time It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative (Liberal Party of Australia) government, Labor put forward a for the players to take some responsibility.'' Take responsibility or pay the price. Last year, the Ducks were one game over .500 (35-34-13) and finished sixth in the Western Conference, but Hartsburg knows times have changed. Ten teams figure to be battling for the eight playoff spots all season and a postseason berth is going to have to be earned the old-fashioned way - with hard work and sacrifice. ``Five hundred won't get you in the playoffs, so it's time to wake up,'' said Hartsburg, who has watched his team go through the motions more than a few times this season, in winning and losing efforts. ``We need to learn to handle success,'' Selanne said. ``Not to be too satisfied.'' KINGS vs. MIGHTY DUCKS Time: 7:30 p.m., at the Pond TV/Radio: FSN (Full-Service Network) A communications network that provides shopping, movies on demand and access to databases and a variety of interactive services. 2; KRLA-AM (1110) and XTRA-AM (690). Matchup: This is not only an important game for the Ducks in terms of a rivalry. They are 12-12-2 and entering a difficult time in their schedule. After the Kings, they fly to Phoenix for a Saturday game against the Coyotes, who lead the league with 35 points. Next week, the Ducks face Western Conference playoff contenders Vancouver and Colorado. After the Ducks, the Kings play Saturday night against Tampa Bay Tampa Bay, inlet of the Gulf of Mexico, 25 mi (40 km) long and 7 to 12 mi (11.3–19 km) wide, W Fla., separated from the Gulf by numerous small islands; it receives the Hillsborough River. St. , which defeated Anaheim 4-2 on Wednesday. The Ducks were seeking their third consecutive victory for the first time this year. Five times they have won two in a row. This will be the first meeting between the two teams this season. They played each other back in September at the final hockey game in the Forum. The Kings won 8-1, but it was better known for a huge fight that began when top scorer Teemu Selanne was checked heavily into the boards. - Matt McHale CAPTION(S): Photo, box Photo: With scorers like Teemu Selanne, the Ducks were expecting to be off to a fast start - instead, they're stuck with a .500 record. Michael Caulfield/Associated Press Box: KINGS vs. MIGHTY DUCKS (See text) |
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