Ducks’ line juggling ongoing as Randy Carlyle searches for right combinations

ST. LOUIS — Troy Terry went from playing on the Ducks’ top line with Ryan Getzlaf to sitting in the press box before returning to the lineup for Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Blues. Isac Lundestrom went from the press box to the lineup after Getzlaf injured his groin in the second game of the season.

For the youngest and least experienced Ducks, finding their places in the lineup has been a work in progress. Coach Randy Carlyle has tried to pair them with veterans of like skills, playing to the strengths of the players. It’s taken some adjusting for all concerned.

Injuries to key forwards such as Getzlaf, Patrick Eaves (shoulder) and Ondrej Kase (concussion) required the Ducks to plug rookies such as Terry and Lundestrom into the lineup in key roles. Carlyle has been quick to point out that the youngsters have earned their ice time, though.

Nothing has been given, it’s been earned.

It’s required some line juggling, a process that’s ongoing.

“With Troy Terry coming to our hockey club after his college season (in 2017-18), I’m not going to play him with lower-level skill people,” Carlyle said. “It’s not downgrading the people he’s not going to play with, but you put him with Ryan Getzlaf. Skill and skill.”

Max Comtois is another player best suited to play with skillful linemates.

“He scored a lot of goals as a junior, so it’s natural,” Carlyle said. “Would we put him on our fourth line or would we put him up higher in our lineup? He deserves to play with skilled players because he’s proved to the hockey world at a lower level that he’s been able to provide offense.

“That’s the kind of matching you do with personnel.”

YOUTH MOVEMENT (PART 2)

Carlyle couldn’t say he was surprised by the impact the young Ducks have had so far.

“I guarantee you in June and July we didn’t project that we would have six rookies available to our lineup on a nightly basis,” he said. “I guarantee you that … (but) they came to training camp and earned it. They survived training camp.

“I keep telling them, ‘Now, the easy part is over with. Now, the tough part is to maintain your position in the lineup and become an NHL player on a day-to-day basis.’”

Carlyle declined to pin the blame for the Ducks’ second-period collapse and 5-3 loss Saturday to the Dallas Stars on a lineup that included five rookies. Similar lineups took five of a possible six points from Detroit on Monday, Arizona on Wednesday and St. Louis on Sunday.

It was an unnamed group of veterans who drew the ire of Carlyle.

“It started the very first shift (of the second period),” he said. “That’s not kids, that’s our veteran group. We have to be held accountable for some of the plays that we made and the lack of intensity that we showed in some of the areas for the puck.”

BLANDISI RECALLED

The Ducks recalled Joseph Blandisi from the San Diego Gulls, their AHL team, in order to bolster their depth at center after Carter Rowney suffered an upper-body injury during Saturday’s loss to the Stars. Blandisi had two points, both assists, in three games with the Gulls.

Blandisi was scratched from Sunday’s lineup, however.

NEGATIVE NUMBERS

The Ducks and Blues each had 31 shots on goal Sunday.

Saturday, the Ducks were outshot by the Stars 51-25, including by a mind-boggling 30-4 in the second period, continuing a pattern to start the season. The Ducks have been outshot in four of six games and by a combined total of 216-143. They have given up an average of 36 per game.

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