Anaheim Ducks Hockey Team

The Ducks became deeper up the middle and on defense in the frantic hours before Wednesday's trading deadline, getting good returns for players who had won Stanley Cup rings but wouldn't commit to staying through a roster renovation. The Kings' lone deal brought them right wing Justin Williams, on injured reserve because of a broken finger.

VS. MINNESOTA Time: 5 p.m. On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 830. Where: Honda Center. Records: Ducks 31-29-8, Wild 31-28-5. Record vs. Wild: 2-1. Update: When Bobby Ryan scored a brilliant goal late in the third period in Friday's loss to Dallas, he was teamed with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. The Ducks' three burgeoning offensive stars spent much of the period on the same line.

If the Ducks don't seem to have any answers on the ice, it's hard to expect them to find any when they leave it. And so, as they spent another night watching their season head toward extinction with a 3-2 loss Sunday to Minnesota, they weren't much for self-examination. "We've talked about it until we're blue in the face," said center Todd Marchant. "We all know where we are and what situation we're in."

As bad as things have gotten for the Ducks this season -- and they nearly got very bad before Scott Niedermayer's overtime breakaway lifted them to a 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks at the Honda Center -- General Manager Bob Murray said he had never considered firing Coach Randy Carlyle. Murray chose instead to fire some of his players, pulling off a series of trades aimed at now and the future.

It seemed like old times as Travis Moen racked up a game-high six hits, was plus-1 defensively and scored a significant goal Sunday at the Honda Center. It was a typical performance for the rugged winger, who was so strong a presence throughout the Ducks' 2007 Stanley Cup run. During that remarkable spring he had three game-winners -- two during the finals -- and teamed with Samuel Pahlsson and Rob Niedermayer to dominate at both ends of the ice.

VS. NASHVILLE When: 7. On the air: TV: FS West; Radio: 830. Where: Honda Center. Records: Ducks 32-31-6; Predators 35-30-5. Record vs. Predators: 0-1-1. Update: No matter how middling the Ducks remain, they can't seem to fall out of playoff contention. Now, the schedule does them a favor. They will spend the next two weeks playing home-and-home series with middle- to bottom-tier teams in the Western Conference -- Nashville, Edmonton, Colorado and Phoenix.

As Teemu Selanne skated over to the corner, waiting for his teammates to congratulate him, he shook his head in exasperation. It was not the look of a man who had notched his 1,200th career point on an overtime game-winning goal in a crucial 4-3 victory over Nashville at the Honda Center. But then it was that type of night Wednesday, when any sense of accomplishment for the Ducks came tinged with frustration.

AT PHOENIX Time: 7. On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 830. Where: Jobing.com Arena. Records: Ducks 33-31-6, Coyotes 29-35-6. Record vs. Coyotes: 2-1. Update: At least two Ducks won't mind heading out on the road -- Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan, who have combined to score 27 of their 45 goals away from home. Four of the Ducks' next six games are against Phoenix and Colorado -- the only two teams that are, for all practical purposes, out of Western Conference playoff contention.

. -- Bobby Ryan knocked in the deciding goal in a shootout and the Ducks stayed in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race with a 3-2 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday night. Todd Marchant had a pair of assists for the Ducks, who climbed into a tie with idle Dallas and Minnesota for ninth place with 74 points. The top eight teams in the conference will make the playoffs.

VS. PHOENIX Time: 5 p.m. On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 830. Where: Honda Center. Records: Ducks, 34-31-6, Coyotes 30-35-7. Record vs. Coyotes: 3-1. Update: Who needs regulation, anyway? The Ducks picked up four points in their last two games in the compelling Western Conference race despite blowing leads in regulation on Wednesday against Nashville and Thursday at Phoenix, beating the Predators in overtime and the Coyotes in a shootout.