Here’s a great way to squander benefit of the doubt: lose three games in a row, all at home.
The first two weeks of November were supposed to be a saving grace for the Anaheim Ducks; unfortunately, they only held up the first half of that bargain.
After winning four games in a row to start the month, they’ve now dropped three straight games, and Friday’s 4-1 defeat (obviously) didn’t even provide them with the solace of a standings point.
Instead, they leave “The Pond” empty-handed after losing to the New York Islanders, and the road ahead looks bumpy at best.
The Ducks face a four-game road trip through “non-traditional” locales: Carolina, Nashville, Florida and finally Tampa Bay. They also play five of six on the road.
The see-saw swings the other way with a nice run of home dates from late November to mid-December, yet once again one has to wonder if Bruce Boudreau’s seat will get too hot in the near future.
As this Natural Stat Trick chart shows, the Islanders probably deserved the win, rather than merely getting “bounces.”
Ducks management has been patient through this slow start, but you think Boudreau’s running out of chances?