THE ANAHEIM DUCKS lost their fifth straight Saturday, falling 5-4 in overtime to Arizona.

The Anaheim Ducks are going through a Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde month in December. After winning six of their first seven games, the Orange County team has lost five straight, falling from just one point out of first in the NHL Pacific Division all the way to fourth.

Saturday’s defeat was a 5-4 overtime loss at Honda Center to the Arizona Coyotes. Thrice the Ducks held two-goal leads but could not hold them. The loss dropped their record to 19-15-6.

Ondrej Kase scored twice for Anaheim and Nick Ritchie had three assists. John Gibson had 25 saves on 30 shots on goal.

“We were too loose defensively,” said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle. “We had three two-goal leads, and you should be able to finish it out. We were guilty of trying to be too cute in the second period. We didn’t play the simple grind game that’s required. We tried to get over-passing, over-handling and trying to make too fancy of plays. It cost us.”

The Ducks are next in action on Monday hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning (30-7-2), leader of the Atlantic Division with the best record in the league.