Returning players cannot power Ducks past Red Wings

The Anaheim Ducks lost to the Detroit Red Wings, by a final score of 6-3. The long-time thorn in the side of the Ducks handed the team their second loss in a row. Despite the return of some key players, the Ducks looked exhausted from their much-hyped contest from the previous game against the Colorado Avalanche.

Old faces reemerged

Ryan Strome returned to the Ducks lineup for the first time this season, after being sidelined since the preseason. Mikael Granlund also made his return to the Ducks lineup after missing the previous nine games. With Ryan Poehling being ruled out with an injury, the line shakeup began with Sam Colangleo being sent down to the AHL, prior to the night's contest.

Strome centered the fourth line, with the struggling Frank Vatrano as one of his wingers. In theory, the combination of Strome and Vatrano should have yielded positive results, due to their previous chemistry together. In this game, however, neither Strome nor Vatrano really stood out.

Granlund was tabbed as the third line center. Though rusty, he was still able to tip in a goal in the third period, off of an Ian Moore point shot, to pull the Ducks within one goal.

Despite the effort from Granlund though, that was as close as the Ducks would get to evening the score.

No juice

Despite also getting goals from the usual suspects of Cutter Gauthier and Chris Kreider, the Ducks still looked flat during the game. The explosiveness and resiliency on the forecheck looked completely absent from their seven-game win streak form. Regression is to be anticipated, but the team as a whole, absent of a few players, looked gassed.

Lukas Dostal also looked out of form too, posting a .844 save percentage on the night, allowing five goals on 32 shots.

With an upcoming game against the Minnesota Wild, the Ducks would do well to simply refocus and rest up, before taking on another team with playoff aspirations.