ANAHEIM DUCKS lost 2-1 Sunday to the Minnesota Wild.

By Pete Zarustica

The Anaheim Ducks’ sole grip on first place in the NHL Pacific Division didn’t last very long. The team squandered an early lead and lost 2-1 to the Minnesota Wild Sunday night at Honda Center.

To add insult to injury, the visitors are coached by Bruce Boudreau, whom the Ducks fired last year. While Anaheim is 21-13-8 on the season – tied for first in the Pacific with San Jose at 50 points – the Wild has an even better mark at 25-9-5. That’s worth 55 points and second place in the Central Division behind the Chicago Blackhawks.

Boudreau didn’t mind all the well-wishers on his return to Orange County, and having the focus on him. “I love it,” he said. “Are you kidding? When you win, it’s easy to face the questions.”

Ryan Kesler got the Ducks on the scoreboard first with a goal at the 11:44 mark of the first period, his 16th of the season. But that was all the offense the team could must. The Wild responded with a pair of goals in the second period to take a 2-1 lead and the third was scoreless.

Anaheim goalkeeper John Gibson made 34 saves for the hosts. Next up for the Ducks is another home game, this one on Tuesday hosting the Dallas Stars (16-16-8).