Without a single point to show for half of their longest streak at the Honda Center this season, the Ducks turned their attention to the Columbus Blue Jackets, who will complete a back-to-back SoCal set in the span of 23 hours against the Ducks on Sunday .

The Ducks continued to stutter offensively, scoring a measly five goals in three games, a figure supplemented by two goals from Mason McTavish in the smoldering embers of two games already decided.

Even though the NHL’s EDGE data showed that the entry Friday’s 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild While the Ducks had the lowest offensive zone percentage and the highest defensive zone percentage in the league, the Ducks had a respectable performance territorially and analytically against Minnesota.

Still, faceoff losses — both in terms of timing, location and volume — again “tormented” the Ducks, coach Greg Cronin said, and some of his players continued to show signs of concern offensively.

“When guys pass the puck from the slot to the side, they’re not very sure they’re going to score, so they give it to a player who’s at a bad angle thinking he’s going to score, because “They can’t score,” Cronin said. “It’s psychological.”

There were, however, some strong players in the Ducks group. Frank Vatrano recorded a career-high in shots on goal and, like seemingly every other Ducks scorer, missed the net on solid chances. He and Trevor Zegras had moments of taking charge on the power play, but, overall, the Ducks units went 0-of-6.

Cronin made various changes throughout the lineup – forward lines, defensive pairings and power play units and setups – entering the game and during the contest, with limited result.

“We try to get lines that will have an identity as a group and then maintain that throughout the game,” he said.

Against Minnesota, veteran Cam Fowler (upper body) did not play. It seemed unlikely the Ducks would get him back Sunday, but expect to see the season debut of another veteran, goaltender John Gibson, who recovered from a preseason appendectomy and supported Lukáš Dostál on Friday.

Gibson will face a Blue Jackets club that has managed to stay tied in the standings despite continued roster turnover and the devastating loss of winger Johnny Gaudreau, who was killed Aug. 29 along with his brother Matthew by a drunk driver. , the day before their sister. Katie’s wedding.

Gaudreau, known to many as “Johnny Hockey,” first rose to prominence at Boston College, where he won a national title alongside Ducks defenseman Brian Dumoulin.