from Jeff Miller of the OC Register,

It’s called home ice, not home nice, a fact that never has been clearer than it is today.

On Sunday, the Ducks were left to defend the frozen turf of suddenly hospitable Southern California in a postseason that has begun, locally at least, as a sobering thaw.

Instead, they just melted down by being “stupid” – Coach Bruce Boudreau’s assessment – and lost Game 2 of their first-round series against Nashville, 3-2.

After spending the final stretch of the regular season taffy pulling for the top of the Pacific Division, the Ducks and Kings ended up Nos. 1 and 2 but both still earned the purported advantage of starting the playoffs at home.

At this stage, identifying that advantage requires equal amounts of wild creativity and blind denial.

With this defeat, the Ducks dropped both their home games, just like the Kings did to San Jose, each team quickly turning an opening series into something that feels more like a closing ceremony.

Now, the Ducks are faced with the reality of having to win 4 of 5 against an opponent that so far has worked harder and smarter and executed more frequently.

continued

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