Lack of Forechecks Foreshadows Trouble

The Ducks’ sluggish starts in three of the first four games on their five-game trip have become a major headache for players and coaches.

“I wish I had an answer,” center Travis Green said. “There’s no excuses, that’s for sure. I thought we had a good start at the Garden [en route to a 4-1 victory over the New York Rangers last Friday]. The rest of the games, we didn’t [start well]. I think if we could pinpoint it, we’d play perfectly every night.”

The key to playing well appears to be a strong forecheck. When the Ducks pressure opponents, they create scoring chances off turnovers.

The Ducks were too passive in the first two periods Monday against the Detroit Red Wings, but rallied because of their aggressive forecheck in the third period before falling, 3-2.

“We played a pretty good period in the third,” Green said. “We had them on the run. . . . Obviously, we want to finish as high as we can. We match up pretty good against Phoenix, but it doesn’t matter who we play against. We’ve got to get going.”

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Leave it to Detroit to come up with a novel way of stopping Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne. Neither had a goal, although Selanne picked up an assist for his 100th point.

“We took the approach that the best way to defend those two guys is to keep the puck on our sticks,” Detroit’s Brendan Shanahan said. “Play offense ourselves instead of shadowing them or following them around, waiting at your own blue line, waiting for them to come at you. We tried a little puck-control ourselves.”

TONIGHT at Dallas 5:30 PDT, Fox Sports West 2

* Site--Reunion Arena.

* Radio--XTRA (690)

* Records--Ducks 34-30-12, Stars 47-17-12.

* Record vs. Stars--1-3-1.

* Update--Center Mike Modano, the Stars’ leading scorer with 79 points, will not play because of a groin strain. Center Brian Skrudland (chest strain) and defensemen Shawn Chambers (hip flexor) and Richard Matvichuk (knee and groin strains) also will not play. Duck center Steve Rucchin is expected to be sidelined for the fourth consecutive game because of a groin strain. The Ducks are 1-10-1 at Dallas in their six-season history.