Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle’s answer to winless trip: more practice

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Despite the Ducks having a week-long, winless, four-game trip, Coach Randy Carlyle held a noon practice Tuesday hoping that more time on the ice will change the team’s fortunes.

Their 5-2 loss Monday to the Pittsburgh Penguins ended a 0-3-1 trip and marked the Ducks’ 10th loss out of 13 games.

Carlyle noted, however, that the team hadn’t practiced Sunday because he was holding individual meetings, something he says he typically does every 15 to 20 games.

Nonetheless, the Ducks (6-10-3) going into Tuesday were ranked 28th in the NHL in points (15).

‘We should try to and get on the ice as much as possible to try to improve our overall execution level,’ he said after Tuesday’s practice at Honda Center. ‘That, first and foremost, was missing last night. It wasn’t where it needs to be in the last three games, four games. That’s been frustrating for everybody.’

In other news, center Saku Koivu (strained groin muscle) skated for only about 15 minutes. Carlyle said he wasn’t sure if Koivu would practice Wednesday but is ‘hoping’ the veteran center will be able to play in Thursday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Center Ryan Carter (sore foot) did not practice.

Go to latimes.com/sports later for more Ducks coverage.

-- Mark Medina