Will it be the defensively diligent and offensively opportunistic team that won 11 of 13 games earlier this season, or the mistake-prone group that has now gone winless in five games? Their lack of consistency within the season and within games has been astounding. It’s not a physical problem: They had good jump in building two-goal leads over the Coyotes three times Saturday.
Is it coaching? Leadership? Strategy? Probably some combination of those factors and their constant injuries, which have forced them to play several young defensemen. Consistency is a big hurdle for young players, but the Ducks have enough veterans that this much inconsistency shouldn’t happen.