Boudreau: Getzlaf's gaffes could be a sign of 'trying to do too much'

Anaheim Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau thinks Ryan Getzlaf's mental lapses could be the result of him overcompensating for the team's struggles.

"Maybe he’s trying to do too much because we haven’t been winning, I don’t know," Boudreau told reporters Thursday, according to Janis Carr of the Orange County Register. "He wants to make the great plays, he wants this team to win. He takes a lot of pride in this team, so sometimes you try too hard to make the right play."

Getzlaf's giveaway gave Ottawa Senators forward Curtis Lazar an easy breakaway goal Wednesday night, and Boudreau benched his captain until midway through the third period, when he inserted him into the fourth line.

"I was more upset with myself on the (goal) than anything," Getzlaf said. "We’re all accountable for what we do. It’s not often I get (benched), and sometimes the message needs to be sent. I did my best to stay up on the bench and made sure the guys are ready and be sure I was ready when my turn came again."

Getzlaf got back in Boudreau's good graces when he set up defenseman Shea Theodore's first NHL goal, which held up as the winner in a 4-1 victory.

"He sure redeemed himself," Boudreau said Thursday. "It was nice to see when you get there and redeem yourself like that."

A similar gaffe by Getzlaf allowed Arizona Coyotes forward Mikkel Boedker to score the overtime winner in a 4-3 victory over the Ducks in November.