Anaheim Ducks Hockey Team

Given the Kings' failure to show up in the first period of their last two games, it was no surprise they didn't show up for their scheduled practice Tuesday at the Toyota Center. This absence was planned -- Coach Terry Murray gave players a day off the ice before back-to-back games at Anaheim tonight and at San Jose on Thursday. He didn't grant them a reprieve from analyzing failed rallies and shootout losses against Edmonton and Atlanta.

The next Southern California hockey team that will make the NHL playoffs is the Kings. Yes, the long-hapless and until recently hopeless Kings. Not the Ducks, less than two years removed from their Stanley Cup championship but showing they need a major overhaul before they can become a force again. The teams' role reversal probably won't come full circle this season, but it will happen.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- There are seven weeks left, yet the Ducks consider each game important enough to make or break their season. Corey Perry had a goal and two assists, four teammates also scored and the Ducks ended a three-game slide, beating the Columbus Blue Jackets, 5-2, on Saturday night. "We described it as the most important game of the year," Coach Randy Carlyle said about his decision to go with Jean-Sebastien Giguere in goal for the second night in a row.

AT BUFFALO Time: 4 PST. On the air: TV: Versus; Radio: 830. Where: HSBC Arena. Records: Ducks 29-27-5, Sabres 31-23-6. Record vs. Sabres: 1-0. Update: The Ducks have at least broken one bad habit -- they didn't give up the first goal in the first two games of this trip. They've also scored power-play goals in their last three games. Neither of the Miller brothers will be on the ice tonight.

Todd Marchant hadn't scored in such a long time that even Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle wondered what got into his defensive forward on Tuesday night. "I guess he must have fueled up on chicken wings last night," Carlyle said with a wink regarding Marchant, the Buffalo-area native who marked his homecoming with a key goal in a 3-2 win over the Sabres. Not so fast, said a grinning Marchant, who was eyeing the pizza and wings spread across the table in the Ducks locker room after the game.

Michael Ryder had two goals and an assist Thursday, and Tim Thomas made 35 saves to earn his fourth shutout of the season as the Boston Bruins defeated the Ducks, 6-0. "It found a way to turn in their favor in a hurry and we didn't respond well to adversity," Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle said. "That's a first-place hockey club. They played well and stuck to their system."

When: Noon PST. On the air: TV: Prime. Radio: 830. Where: American Airlines Center. AT DALLAS Records: Ducks 30-28-5. Stars 29-24-7. Records vs. Stars: 0-1-2 Update: Hours after acquiring Ryan Whitney to solidify the defense, the Ducks were clobbered by Boston, 6-0. On Friday they recalled left wing Drew Miller from Iowa, sending down Brian Salcido, presumably to fortify the offense. They'll see how that goes against another team stuck in a rut as the playoff race intensifies.

AT CHICAGO Time: 5:30 PST. On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 830. Where: United Center. Records: Ducks 31-28-5, Blackhawks 35-17-9. Record vs. Blackhawks: 1-2. Update: The Ducks have won three of five on this trip -- losing only to Detroit and Boston. They are in eighth place heading into a crucial two-week stretch when the teams chasing the final few berths will catch up with them in number of games played.

While NHL teams hunted for bargains before Wednesday's noon PST trading deadline, two notable defensemen were pulled off the market. Ducks General Manager Bob Murray said Monday he will keep Scott Niedermayer, captain of the 2007 Stanley Cup championship team, and Kings GM Dean Lombardi said he will keep veteran Sean O'Donnell while trying to re-sign him. Murray also indicated he might not deal prized defenseman Chris Pronger.

Martin Havlat scored 1:40 into overtime to give the Chicago Blackhawks a 3-2 win over the Ducks on Tuesday night. Havlat broke down the middle from center ice, and despite being pulled down from behind by Corey Perry, he managed to loft a shot past Ducks goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere. Chicago's Troy Brouwer and Andrew Ladd scored in the first period to give the Blackhawks a 2-0 lead. Drew Miller and Bobby Ryan of the Ducks scored early in the second to tie the score, 2-2.