If the Anaheim Ducks were negative types, they’d linger on the missed opportunities from their 3-2 overtime loss in Game 1 to the Los Angeles Kings.
It’s not as if Jonas Hiller totally denies some of those thoughts, as he admitted that it was tough to give up that game-tying goal to Marian Gaborik in particular.
Still, many of the takeaways were positive. Andrew Cogliano called it the Ducks’ best effort against the Kings in two years, even with the loss.
Head coach Bruce Boudreau pointed out how much of a tossup it seemed to be:
#NHLDucks Boudreau on Game 1: "It's a 3-2 overtime game where both teams battle and no one dominated. Either team could have won."
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) May 4, 2014
... While Matt Beleskey emphasized the need to shake it off quickly:
#NHLDucks @Matt_Beleskey said the team can't dwell on the loss. "We have a quick turnaround and we'll be ready for Game 2." #BattleforSoCal
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) May 4, 2014
The Ducks host the Kings in Game 2 on Monday, so they do indeed need to bounce back in little time, whether they truly find reasons for optimism down 0-1 or not.