Slumping Ducks

The loss against the visiting Montral Canadiens was nothing short of frustrating, anger-filling, and heartbreaking to say the least. Anaheim came off of a strong run just before the Olympic break, but some how, the Ducks cannot manage to get their heads in the game. Emotions take the best of players; making them commit stupid and unworthy penalties (or not) in the case of Corey Perry and Andrei Markov.  The Ducks as a team as a whole is playing medicorely, Ryan Getzlaf  commited bad turnovers in the game versus the Habs; which one resulted in a goal. Then there was the shootout after Markov scored to tie up the game less than 30 seconds of the game which really shouldn't of gone to the shootout. In the SO an odd and frustrating scene unfolded as Brian Gionta  skated in on Jonas Hiller, letting go a wrister which initially Hiller made the save. Confusion fueled Hiller's head, as he did not know where the puck was; in fact no one did. In a quick, swift motion Hiller stood up, moved backwards and the puck, which had wedged in his leg pad fell past the red line resulting in a good goal for Gionta. The official had yet to blow the play dead; as he apparently lost the puck, too. (Not sure what the rule is on that  whole situation) Getzlaf would score the lone goal in the shootout for the Ducks. (Perry score to make put the Ducks on the board first, then Lubomir Vinovsky with his first goal as a Duck would put Anaheim ahead by two. Tomas Plekanec scored for the Canadiens, to cut the lead in half. In the third; the Habs would score twice; off of Gionta and Markov, who had the devasting tying goal)

Anaheim's current four game losing streak  and especially the game against the Canadiens, the Ducks fans' hopes are sinking even further.  Is this resulting in an Olympic slump? or is it just another little excuse on why the Ducks are losing? Anaheim is virtually injury free with the exception of Joffrey Lupul who has missed the last 35 games.

In the crease, Hiller hasn't been bad but he hasn't been what the fans are used to seeing from him. As with other players, he played very well for his country in the Olympics; but Hiller has been struggling with traffic in front which isn't exactly his strong front but he's improved on it since being in the NHL, he had still struggled. The game against Columbus; Hiller was pulled in favor of the newest Duck goaltender Curtis McElhinney

The threat gets even bigger in each loss and when a team doesn't necessarily play with heart as an actual team. Hiller's struggles could result in the Olympic loss against the United States; he could necessarily not be completely there mentally in the games with Anaheim. There was a controversy, where people said; Hiller shouldn't be playing due to the mere fact that this would make him tired for the remainder of the season. One thing which is brought up is this could basically be once in a life time chance for any player to play in Canada. Although Hiller would be more ecstatic  if the Olympics were in his native Switzerland. The loss to the US was tough because it resulted in the Swiss being knocked out of the medal race. It is possible this can bring him down mentally and not perform up to his full potential.

One thing which doesn't help him is if he doesn't get much help up front from the team in front of him. As of right now, he's not too bad but he's not too good either. He needs to as with the rest of the team, make himself better and play up to the skill everyone knows he has and has seen within the past.