from Scott Burnside of ESPN,

February is turning out to be the cruelest month for the Anaheim Ducks. Cruising along atop the Pacific Division standings and in the hunt for top spot in the Western Conference -- and the entire league -- for much of the season, the Ducks have just one win in their last six outings after a lackluster 4-1 defeat at home to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Ducks have given up 23 goals over that span and their defense corps, at least a modest question mark earlier in the season, is now in crisis mode with the loss of Sami Vatanen for at least a month. Forward Matt Beleskey is also out two to four weeks, giving general manager Bob Murray a lot more to deal with as the trade deadline looms on March 2. Rookie goalie John Gibson took the loss Wednesday night, his second in a row, and with Frederik Andersen still on the shelf it doesn't look like there will be an easy solution to the Ducks' travails.

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