▁January ▁ 2 9 . ▁Iron ically , ▁the ▁D uck s ▁had ▁a ▁five - game ▁un be aten ▁stre ak ▁which ▁began ▁in ▁Pitts burgh ▁and ▁going ▁ 7 - 3 - 4 ▁since ▁K ip ▁Miller ' s ▁ac quisition ▁by ▁February ▁ 2 9 . ▁In ▁early ▁March ▁Ana heim ▁strugg led ▁to ▁keep ▁up ▁with ▁Ed mont on ▁and ▁San ▁Jose ▁going ▁ 1 - 3 - 2 - 1 ▁and ▁win less ▁the ▁last ▁four ▁games ▁during ▁that ▁stretch ▁until ▁March ▁ 1 5 . ▁The ▁D uck s ▁then ▁again ▁made ▁a ▁Play ▁Off ▁push ▁winning ▁the ▁next ▁three ▁games ▁but ▁going ▁ 3 - 4 - 0 - 1 ▁in ▁their ▁last ▁eight ▁games ▁thus ▁missing ▁the ▁post ▁season ▁by ▁ 4 ▁points . ▁Since ▁the ▁M ight y ▁D uck s ▁never ▁were ▁out ▁of ▁the ▁Play ▁Off ▁picture ▁fans ▁and ▁exper ts ▁critic ized ▁General ▁Manager ▁Pierre ▁G auth ier ' s ▁decision ▁not ▁to ▁obtain ▁a ▁player ▁with ▁some ▁scoring ▁touch ▁( Ser ge i ▁K riv ok ras ov ▁and ▁Br end an ▁Mor r ison ▁were ▁de alt ▁at ▁the ▁trad ing ▁dead line ). ▁Late ▁ac quis itions ▁Ed ▁Ward ▁and ▁J org on ▁J ons son ▁had ▁no ▁impact , ▁each ▁scoring ▁only ▁one ▁goal ▁though ▁Ward ▁brought ▁some ▁physical ▁play ▁with ▁him . ▁ ▁Ana heim ' s ▁biggest ▁problem ▁was ▁their ▁Pen alty ▁Kill , ▁the ▁M ight y ▁D uck s ▁strugg led ▁a ▁lot