Laguna Woods music clubs march to a different drummer

• March 27, 2023

“Ham and cheese!” “Peanut butter sandwich!” “Mac, mac ’n’ cheese!”

These words ringing through the Elm Room in the Laguna Woods Community Center on Tuesday evenings don’t mean that food is on the table.

Rather, they’re rhythms that help members of the Drum Circle keep the beat as their lively sounds meld together.

The Drum Circle is one of several groups in the Laguna Woods that make their own kind of music. The Ukulele Club does it with the ever popular stringed instrument, while the new Yankee Doodlettes will soon be setting the tone with their buzzing kazoos.

Gayle Slaten, who leads the Drum Circle with partner Don Celestino, said she finds it easier to remember rhythms when words are attached to them.

Celestino prefers to let his hands do the talking as he beats out intricate patterns and rhythms for the group, which numbers from 15 to 20 members at any given gathering.

Celestino views drumming as a great stress reducer and a good health inducer.

“You don’t need to bring anything but your hands, and you can’t play the wrong note,” he said with a laugh. “You can relax and get rid of excess energy.”

Slaten emphasizes the communal aspect of the group.

“The drum was the very first instrument,” she said. “It echoes our heartbeat.”

The couple usually set up their Native American “Mother Drum” in the middle of the circle and bring a variety of other drums, shakers and noisemakers for members to use.

Participants join in enthusiastically as Slaten intones her food-related rhythmic words or Celestino demonstrates catchy beats for members to replicate. Often, these take the form of “call and response,” where he plays first and members drum the beat back to him.

Participant Rich Levy has wanted to play drums since childhood, he said.

“I find the drumming meditative, both stimulating and relaxing,” Levy said after beating the Mother Drum through a five-minute number.

“Drumming connects me to the earth,” said Olivia Batchelder, who also enjoys seeing everyone joined in a common endeavor.

New group member Chuck Marlatte said he enjoys participating in the rhythm.

“I like seeing other people enjoying themselves,” he said, adding that he hopes to drum a lot more with the group.

Slaten and Celestino settled in the Village last June after spending the previous summer here. While visiting, they drummed with a group led by Jerry Self, but that circle had disbanded during the pandemic by the time they moved in permanently.

Celestino had been drumming for around 15 years, starting with his participation in drum circles at Glen Ivy Hot Springs in Riverside County.

“A close friend who was a master drummer died and left all his stuff to me,” he said.

The friend asked him to carry on the tradition, which was easy for Celestino, who had fallen in love with the sound of the djembe, or African drum. Celestino perfected his skills through the many circles he joined and the accomplished drummers who led them, he said.

Slaten came to the drum after playing Native American flute for a while.

“With flutes, usually only one person at a time can play, but with drumming, everyone plays together and there is more community building,” she said.

Slaten led a women’s drum circle in Tucson, Arizona, before meeting Celestino there about five years ago.

“People would gather in a Tucson park, where there was a lot going on, like drumming, dancing and even stilt walking,” she said.

“All the eclectic people that enjoyed music and art showed up,” Celestino added. “Everybody loved it.”

Slaten closes each drum session in the Elm Room with a beat to the catchy tune of “Funga Alafia,” an African greeting song that means “peace” in the Yoruba language of Nigeria.

Drum Circle members leave humming the tune as they head out into the night.

Full-out singing can be heard at Clubhouse 6 on Friday afternoons as members of the Ukulele Club gather to play.

One of the oldest continuous music clubs in the Village, the ukulele group has gone through many incarnations since being founded in 1968 as the Hikers’ Ukulele Band. Original players were members of the Hiking Club, but those who were not hikers broke away to form the Ukulele Club, with the purpose of teaching and entertaining residents and community organizations.

Through the years, members have performed in many venues and have focused on different types of music, including an emphasis on Hawaiian melodies.

Current club President Jay Miller joined in 2015 and participated via Zoom during the COVID shutdown. This year, he and his wife, Marquita, reestablished the in-person group.

“We now have a nice little group,” he said of the dozen or so people who show up each week.

Miller hopes the membership will grow to at least 17 regulars so that a minimal membership fee, not being charged at present, can cover rental and registration costs.

No performances are planned at this time, but Miller hopes to reinstate those as the group grows in size and proficiency.

“We used to play in the Clubhouse 3 lobby before performances, and it was very successful,” he said,

No experience on the uke is necessary to join the group, Miller said, and there’s no pressure.

“It’s fun to sing songs,” he said, pointing to the extensive offerings in the music books members use.

The club’s own songbook has been updated twice since Miller joined and features many tried and true folk songs and popular melodies that members know and love from their younger days.

Peggy Edwards, the club’s publicity director, has been with the group for 17 years. She has played guitar but finds the ukulele more portable.

“It is relatively easy to learn and sounds beautiful,” Edwards said.

Tom and Lynn Finkelor can attest to that. They came to the Ukulele Club six or seven years ago knowing nothing about the uke, but they quickly learned to play.

“We learned from being in the club and from DVDs and YouTube videos,” Tom said.

“It’s a forgiving group,” Lynn said with a laugh.

Tokyo-born Mike Amemiya learned ukulele from a Hawaiian student in Japan and loves to strum and sing out with his strong melodic voice.

Also singing out, especially on the Hawaiian numbers, is “Uncle” Harry Akioka, a Hawaii native who has played the ukelele since age 7. Music is integral to his life, as he also plays guitar, bass, drums and keyboard.

“Everybody at home used to play the uke, but not anymore,” Akioka lamented. “Now everyone’s got a phone in their hand instead.”

Besides Hawaiian songs, Akioka plays church music, jazz and standard American uke music, depending on which group he is playing with.

“Music is music,” he said, adding that he enjoys singing as well. “It’ll take a while for our group to get back to performing,” he said.

But when they’re ready, he plans to take them to as many local venues as possible.

One of the newest Village groups to make music is the Yankee Doodlettes. The kazoo band formed last July to enter the Village’s Fourth of July Golf Cart Parade.

“We played a lot of patriotic songs and had a lot of fun,” said founder Karen Hunt. “It was nothing serious, but we got a lot of notice.”

The group numbered about a dozen women last year, and Hunt said she hopes to accrue more members as the kazoos begin tootling together again in late March.

“I would love to have members with marching band experience and some cymbals and snare drum players as well,” she said.

“It would be great to have hundreds of people and maybe be recognized as the kazoo band with the oldest members in the country,” she added with a laugh.

For more information

The Drum Circle meets Tuesdays from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. in the Elm Room at the Community Center. Bring your own drum if you can. No club dues at this time, but donations for snacks and room rental are welcome. For information, call Gayle Slaten at 818-564-9457.

The Ukulele Group meets Fridays from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in Clubhouse 6. No club dues at this time. Bring a music stand if you have one. For information, call Peggy Edwards at 949-707-5156.

The Yankee Doodlettes will begin meeting this month in the Los Olivos Room at Clubhouse 2. Open tryouts are Friday, March 31, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Practice kazoos will be provided. Snacks provided, but BYOB. For information, contact Karen Hunt at 970-744-8523 or [email protected].

​ Orange County Register 

Santa Anita horse racing consensus picks, Monday, March 27, 2023

• March 27, 2023

The consensus box of Santa Anita horse racing picks comes from handicappers Bob Mieszerski, Art Wilson, Terry Turrell and Eddie Wilson. Here are the picks for thoroughbred races on Monday, March 27, 2023.

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​ Orange County Register 

Dodgers’ Chris Taylor looks poised to platoon in 2023

• March 27, 2023

LOS ANGELES ― Chris Taylor has never been a strict platoon player in seven storybook seasons with the Dodgers.

A right-handed hitter, Taylor has twice as many plate appearances against right-handed pitchers (2,137) compared to left-handers (1,017) in his career. His on-base plus slugging percentages (.760 against righties, .774 against lefties) do not lend themselves to riding the bench with a right-handed pitcher on the mound.

Yet that might just be his fate in 2023.

Manager Dave Roberts said Sunday in advance of the Freeway Series that he sees Taylor getting at-bats “against left-handers” this season.

That was in response to a follow-up question about Taylor’s quest for playing time on an Opening Day roster that includes five other right-handed hitters who mostly outperformed Taylor at the plate in spring training. In 48 Cactus League plate appearances, Taylor had six hits and 23 strikeouts ― a .125 batting average.

“I’ve been more encouraged the last couple days, to be honest,” Roberts said. “(Taylor) was really searching, out of whack. I think he’s found a little something. Still a work in progress. The last couple days for me he’s had better intent. I think he’s seeing the ball much better. Swinging shorter.”

The question for Taylor, soon, is when he’ll get that work in during regular season games. He’s in line to get at-bats at third base, shortstop and second base, Roberts said, but is blocked by a starter at each of those positions. Trayce Thompson, James Outman and David Peralta effectively comprise three outfielders to play left field and center field, with Mookie Betts holding down the right field on most nights.

Outman is poised to start in center field after an impressive spring training. The 25-year-old rookie batted .286 with a .379 on-base percentage and .531 slugging percentage in 49 at-bats. Taylor’s best opportunity, then, could come as a platoon partner in left field with the left-handed hitting Peralta ― a position Thompson would like to hold down too.

Thompson batted .103 (3 for 29) with 10 strikeouts in Cactus League play. He also hit .214 (3 for 14) with seven strikeouts in the World Baseball Classic.

Taylor made his first career All-Star team last year but faded badly in the second half. To get back on track, does he need to play regularly, or can behind-the-scenes practice do the trick?

“You can argue both sides,” Roberts said. “In this case he’s going to have to do a little of both. We’ve got other opportunities and guys I want to play, so it’s a combo.”

In his first at-bat Sunday against the Angels, Taylor hit a solo home run against Tucker Davidson, a left-handed pitcher.

“It’s a long season. I’m not thinking about the whole year,” Taylor said. “I’m just trying to get myself right. If I play the way I’m capable of, I’ll play against lefties and righties.”

SURE THING

Miguel Vargas’ place on the Opening Day roster has gone unquestioned since the outset of camp. Saturday, Roberts said that he pulled aside Andre Jackson, Ryan Pepiot and Outman individually to tell them they had made their first-ever Opening Day rosters ― but not Vargas.

This only came to his attention when Vargas pulled a subtle trick on clubhouse manager Alex Torres.

“(Torres) asked me (Saturday) if I will drive here or take a flight,” Vargas said. “I was joking, saying, ‘I don’t know if I’m on the team.’ ”

Torres took the message back to Roberts, but didn’t indicate Vargas was kidding.

“I sort of maybe dropped the ball a little bit,” Roberts said. “It was assumed he was going to be on the team. I didn’t feel the need to call him in, so he was asking about what his status is going into the Freeway Series. I said, ‘you’re going to be starting at second base this year, congratulations.’ ”

ALSO

Will Smith, who was not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Angels, will play both Freeway Series games in Anaheim, Roberts said. … Jayson Heyward was given a day off after playing Saturday in Arizona. … Special assistant Adrian Gonzalez was in uniform with the Dodgers’ other coaches Sunday.

UP NEXT

Dodgers (Noah Syndergaard) vs. Angels (Tyler Anderson) at Angel Stadium, Monday, SportsNet LA, KCOP, 570-AM, 830-AM

​ Orange County Register 

For Proposition 13’s sake, let’s keep the elected California Board of Equalization

• March 26, 2023

Here’s a question for homeowners: If there is an issue regarding how Proposition 13 should be interpreted or implemented, would you rather have it resolved by unelected political appointees – who have an inherent conflict in their desire to raise revenue – or a board directly elected by, and accountable to, the voters?

Seems like an easy choice to us.

For the second time in recent years, there is a push by anti-taxpayer politicians to abolish the California Board of Equalization. Assembly Constitutional Amendment 11 would transfer the BOE’s responsibilities to a newly created agency or agencies.

When Proposition 13 was overwhelmingly approved by the voters in 1978, the BOE was instrumental in interpreting its Constitutional and statutory provisions as well as in developing programs and guidance to administer Proposition 13. During this period, the Board continued its role as an unbiased arbiter of property tax issues so important to both business property owners and homeowners. Very few of its adopted policies and regulations have been challenged or overturned, largely because of the Board’s status as a respected independent elected body.

Working with county assessors, the BOE administers property tax statutes and regulations for all taxable real estate, consisting of both state-assessed property, such as railroads and utilities, as well as all locally assessed properties including homes. The Board also oversees how counties conduct assessment appeals and periodically surveys their assessment practices.

The elected BOE also develops the Assessors’ Handbook, an exhaustive explanation of property tax law for county assessors, their staff, and other interested parties. All the resources of the BOE are available online and provide valuable guidance, not just to assessors, but to property owners and taxpayer organizations.

The BOE was especially helpful to Californians who were victimized by Proposition 19, which substantially weakened the ability of homeowners to transfer their home and a limited amount of other property to their children without triggering reassessment. While the BOE had no power to change Prop. 19, board members worked very hard to ameliorate the impact to families who had just suffered the death of a loved one.

Homeowners are justified in their concerns that the abolition of the BOE and the transfer of its responsibilities to other bureaucracies will eliminate accountability and convert what is now a relatively responsive body to some uncaring agency as oppressive as the IRS. For homeowners, this is unacceptable. Homeownership is an important right and property taxes are perhaps the most sensitive (and costly) point of contact between citizens and their government.

Those attacking the BOE claim that it is mismanaged. But this argument is a pretext as those accusations are based on an investigation nearly a decade old against former BOE members. None of the current members have been accused of such malfeasance.

Proponents of ACA 11 contend that the duties of the BOE could be performed by political appointees and bureaucrats rather than elected officials. But government tax agencies have a sorry history of being abusive and, in some cases, even vindictive to taxpayers. (For example, look at what the IRS did in targeting some political organizations for audits. Also, California’s former Franchise Tax Board was found guilty of violating the civil rights of Californians who attempt to establish residency in other states).

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The final failed argument by those seeking to abolish the BOE is that it would save money.

Oh, please . . . since when did the California Legislature show an inkling of concern about waste?

The cost of running BOE, about $35 million, is a pittance compared to the waste demonstrated by the state’s political leadership in recent years – high-speed rail, anyone?

Moreover, since most of the functions of BOE would be transferred to other agencies, the alleged cost “savings” would be a fraction of the $35 million.

Taxpayer advocacy organizations, including the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, CalTax, and the California Alliance of Taxpayer Advocates are opposed to ACA 11.

We’re united in our belief that the elected Board of Equalization gives taxpayers accountability, responsiveness, and transparency. It is greatly needed and must be preserved.

Jon Coupal is president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

​ Orange County Register 

My beef with the Academy on behalf of philosophers like me

• March 26, 2023

Once again I did not receive the Oscar for Best in the Field of Nagging.

Before you get your britches in a bunch because of the negativity the word may connote, the nags of their day – may I remind you – were known as philosophers and were greatly revered.

Yes! Plato was a nag, too. In fact, Plato and the Platitudes were the first rock/advice-giving group in history.

Did he even mention that if you ate moo shu pork, you would bloat the next day? I would have told you.

Nagging is simply giving information. For example, when I suggest you avoid an area because of the potholes, I am giving you the facts as I know them. Since this is America, you have the option of not listening to me and squishing your tires and spending a day at Acme Automotive. It is all about choice.

My Oscar losses started many years ago when I listened to those new age suggestions to “let everyone be” and “do their own thang.”

It was not natural behavior for me. My life fell apart that nag-less year. I didn’t tell anyone what to do or give advice, so every unuttered word went straight to my hips.

Being frustrated, I started celebrating Fat Tuesday every day of the week. Then I moved on to Taco Tuesday Wednesday Thursday … well you know the rest.

The kids didn’t clean their room that year so our home was condemned by the board of health.

One son refused to get a haircut. I said nothing. The principal legally changed his name to Mary Elizabeth, so when he was drafted in the Army … oh please, don’t ask.

So the Oscar for Best Nag in 2023 once again … wasn’t me.

I’m usually nonviolent, but do I have to slap someone to get attention?

To nags and every boss, editor, taxman, crossing guard and those on the board of advisers in our community, everywhere all at once … there’s always next year.

In the meantime, sit up straight and eat your veggies. By the way, speaking of which, ya know, it wouldn’t hurt ya to take a nag to lunch sometime.

Humor columnist and Laguna Woods Village resident Jan Marshall is the author of humor books for grownups, including “Dancin Schmancin With the Scars.” She also has written aspirational books for children — “The Toothbrush Who Tried to Run Away“ and “The Littlest Hero.” She’s the founder of the International Humor and Healing Institute in 1986. She’s a clinical hypnotherapist, a TV host and media humorist, and — above all — a proud great-grandmother. Contact her at [email protected].

​ Orange County Register 

Bulls outplay Lakers, spoil LeBron James’ return from injury

• March 26, 2023

LOS ANGELES — Coming off the bench for just the second time in his career, LeBron James still made his check-in a spectacle.

Roughly 5 1/2 minutes into the game, the 38-year-old stepped the scorer’s table, and the home crowd’s volume began to rise as he shook the chalk dust into his hands. Then as he tossed it into the air, a roar rose with it.

The Lakers have been hot over the last month and a half, and James’ arrival after a 13-game layoff due to injury seemed like it might ramp up that momentum even more. But on Sunday, the franchise star’s return could not cure all that ails the Lakers (37-38), who were outplayed nearly start to finish in a 118-108 defeat to the Chicago Bulls (36-38).

There was plenty of juice to a game between two teams at the fringe of the playoff race, including plenty of pre-game trash talking from former Laker Patrick Beverley. James’ quick escalation off the injury report from his right foot tendon injury only amped up the volume, and he wound up with a team-high 19 points and 8 rebounds on 6 for 11 shooting.

But ultimately, a lack of defensive intensity — the very thing that has driven the team’s turnaround after the trade deadline, was the key factor more than any individual player. The Lakers have boasted the league’s third-best defensive rating since the All-Star break (110.4), which helped them go 8-5 without James. But they couldn’t stay in front of Zach LaVine’s weaving drives or keep a lid on Chicago’s bench shooters, and they were bothered in the paint and on the glass by the Bulls’ physicality.

Even with James making a stunning return to the fold, the Lakers got checked in a loss that dropped them down to ninth place in the West. It ended a three-game win streak and wasn’t especially encouraging given that the Lakers have to turn around and play the Bulls again Wednesday in Chicago.

James’ return doesn’t clear up much of the Lakers’ injury uncertainty, either. While James was able to spin, plant and sprint on his injured foot which he hadn’t played on since a Feb. 26 win in Dallas, it’s uncertain how many of the Lakers’ final seven games he’ll play in as the team tries to manage his health for the playoffs. The team also played without D’Angelo Russell for the second straight game as the point guard dealt with right hip soreness.

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Anthony Davis labored again for offensive touches, scoring 15 points on just eight shot attempts. The Bulls — who have had the NBA’s best defense since All-Star — hammered him with double-teams. But the Lakers’ shooters couldn’t punish them, either: The team was just 13 for 36 from deep. Troy Brown Jr. was the team’s best offensive weapon early, finishing with 18 points, while Malik Beasley (18 points) heated up late when the Lakers tried eating into Chicago’s 21-point lead.

There was a small flicker of hope with 1:30 remaining, after Beasley hit his fifth 3-pointer and brought the game within eight points. But Beverley got the last laugh, hitting a turnaround hook over James and gesturing “too small” on the court and howling to himself.

As fired up for his first game in a month as the home crowd was, James himself was slow-starting. It took him nearly four minutes to attempt his first shot, a driving baseline layup. James did a chunk of his first-half damage on the free throw line.

But as much as the Lakers could have used a hit of offense, the other side of the ball held up much more poorly. LaVine caught a rhythm on pick-and-roll drives, while Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu hit 3-pointers that had Chicago up by 20 points even by the second quarter.

​ Orange County Register 

San Diego State beats Creighton, makes first NCAA Final Four

• March 26, 2023

By GARY B. GRAVES, AP Sports Writer

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Darrion Trammell converted a go-ahead free throw after he was fouled on a floater with 1.2 seconds left, and San Diego State muscled its way into its first Final Four, grinding out a 57-56 victory over Creighton on Sunday in the NCAA Tournament’s South Region final.

Lamont Butler scored 18 points and Trammell had 12 for the fifth-seeded Aztecs (31-6), who slowed down the high-scoring, sixth-seeded Bluejays (24-13) and became the first Mountain West Conference team to reach the national semifinals.

The experienced Aztecs, in their sixth season under coach Brian Dutcher, will play the surprising East Region champion, ninth-seeded Florida Atlantic, on Saturday in Houston for a spot in the national title game.

With the game tied at 56-all on San Diego State’s final possession, Trammell drove toward the free-throw line, elevated for the shot and was fouled by Creighton’s Ryan Nembhard. Trammell missed the first free throw but converted the second.

“I’ve been dreaming this my whole life, grateful to be here and thankful to everyone who believed in me,” Trammell said.

Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman threw the ensuing inbound pass the length of the floor. San Diego State’s Aguek Arop and Creighton’s Arthur Kaluma both jumped for it and the ball deflected out of bounds. Officials reviewed the play and determined that time had expired, and the celebration was on for the Aztecs.

“I wasn’t given an explanation other than there was no time on the clock,” Creighton coach Greg McDermott said. “They made no call on the floor but officiating is part of the game and we’re not gonna go there.”

Scheierman had tied the game at 56-all when he stole an inbounds pass and converted a layup with 34 seconds remaining.

Ryan Kalkbrenner scored 17 points and Scheierman and Kaluma had 12 apiece for the Bluejays, who went 2 of 17 from 3-point range.

The Aztecs, who got this far thanks to defense and physical play, held the Bluejays to 23 second-half points on 28% shooting as they won for the 14th time in 15 games. Creighton shot 40% overall.

San Diego State shot 38% but got clutch baskets from Nathan Mensah, whose jumper gave the Aztecs a 56-54 lead with 1:37 left, and Arop, who made two straight shots for a 54-50 advantage with 3:03 remaining.

Creighton, which beat San Diego State in overtime in the first round of last year’s NCAA Tournament, fell just short of joining Big East rival UConn in the Final Four.

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The teams didn’t appear to share any hard feelings from last year’s meeting. They shared a round-trip flight to Hawaii last fall for the Maui Invitational, and there were no dustups during a tight, physical game in which no team led by more than eight points.

DIVIDED LOYALTIES

Kaluma played against his brother, San Diego State’s Adam Seiko. Their parents sat a few rows up at midcourt, sitting quietly before joining Seiko to celebrate.

BIG PICTURE

Creighton’s offense started well enough as the Bluejays built a 33-28 halftime lead and extended their advantage to seven in the second half. But Creighton didn’t make a single 3-pointer after halftime.

San Diego State proved again that defense matters, especially since the Aztecs also scuffled for points. Their experience as depth showed as Mensah and Arop, who averaged just 6.1 and 4.5 points per game respectively, converted the last three baskets.

​ Orange County Register 

For Ducks’ Mason McTavish, playing in World Championships is tough call

• March 26, 2023

ANAHEIM — Once the Ducks season ends, rookie center Mason McTavish is probably going to have to make a decision.

Will he play for Canada in the upcoming World Championships?

McTavish is the sort of candidate Canada would almost certainly want to recruit for the 16-team tournament, co-hosted by Riga, Latvia, and Tampere, Finland, May 12-28. He has an impressive international resume for a player of his age (20) and experience, happily answering the call whenever asked. At the Olympics in 2022, he was the youngest member of Canada’s men’s hockey team in Beijing and a key figure in the gold-medal winning effort at the World Junior Championships in Edmonton in August.

But McTavish himself will acknowledge that he just might need a break.

“It’s tough — you always want to represent your country, but I feel like I’ve played a lot of hockey over the last couple of years,” he told the Orange County Register. “Just a break. Not even physically but just mentally.

“It’s definitely hard to say no to your country. It’ll be a tough decision. I’m not really sure yet.”

McTavish has been in the Calder Trophy dialogue for most of the season as one of the better rookies in the NHL. Matty Beniers of the Seattle Kraken has pretty much led the rookie scoring race from start to finish. After 70 games, Beniers has 20 goals and 50 points, but McTavish is within eight points, recording 42 points (16 goals, 26 assists) in 71 games.

“I’ve been fortunate to play this much and to have the opportunities that I’ve had,” McTavish said.

In a season that hasn’t gone the Ducks’ way, McTavish’s development has been one of the highlights of a season that is going to end in disappointment. But through all the ups and downs, McTavish has taken steps forward in his development.

He started the season on the wing and was centering the fourth line by the 10th game of the season, and quickly became a fixture among the six forwards and the first power-play unit. With Trevor Zegras, the Ducks have two of the better young centermen in the game, and in many ways you could compare where they are this season to where the New Jersey Devils have been in the past.

The Devils have made the playoffs this season as their young core emerges and Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier have taken important steps forward.

When the same thing occurs with Zegras and McTavish, that will bring the Ducks that much closer to turning the corner.

“McTavish and Zegras — their matchups every night, they’re out of this world,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said Saturday. “They are firmly doing their best to keep swimming and not drowning.

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“Our last game (against Winnipeg), they either got (Mark) Scheifele or they got (Pierre-Luc) Dubois or (Adam) Lowry. That’s a handful for them. But it’s excellent for them. They’re understanding it.”

McTavish has only missed one game all season — Jan. 19 at Columbus — making sure a minor back issue didn’t turn into a bigger problem. The physical challenges aren’t the only thing a young player needs to sort out.

“I’d say the mental part is harder,” he said. “All of the travel. It seems like every time I travel I get sick. The dry air, in rooms, the airplane. But not bad sick.

“There’s always so many ups and downs in a year, not getting too down or not getting too up.”

COLORADO AT DUCKS

When: Monday, 7 p.m.

Where: Honda Center

TV: Bally Sports West

​ Orange County Register