Ducks at Canucks
The Anaheim Ducks are feeling pretty good about themselves as they embark on a three-game swing through Western Canada beginning with a contest against the struggling Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Anaheim has won four of its last five games after Sunday's 5-2 victory over NHL-worst Arizona moved it into a tie for third in the Pacific Division with San Jose, although the Sharks have four games in hand.
“We’re a team that once we start doing things the right way and we see some of the results happening, we feel like we can compete with anybody,'' Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler told reporters after recording a goal and an assist Sunday. "These last two games at home were very important for us before going out on a tough western road trip. So hopefully we can carry some of that momentum along with us.” Red-hot Rickard Rakell packed a five-game goal streak in his suitcase after scoring twice Sunday, giving him a team-high 14 in 35 games and six in the last five contests. Vancouver lost 4-3 to Los Angeles on Saturday and is 2-8-1 in its last 11 games since Bo Horvat (10 goals, 20 points, plus-5 in 28 games) fractured his right foot. "If we're not playing our best game, we're not winning hockey games," Canucks goaltender Jacob Markstrom told reporters. "We don't have that team where we can go half speed or 70 or 80 percent. We are so close to winning hockey games, but it's not enough."
TV: 10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet East, Ontario, Pacific (Vancouver), FS West (Anaheim)
ABOUT THE DUCKS (18-14-8): Antoine Vermette (seven goals, 15 assists) was promoted to play on the top line with captain Ryan Getzlaf and Rakell, and responded with a goal and two assists Sunday for his first points in nine games. "We were just trying to find balance in our lineup and trying to put people in places they could be comfortable with and give them an opportunity to have success,'' coach Randy Carlyle told reporters. "We're a work in progress. We haven't had our team together for more than four or five games now." Getzlaf, who is four assists shy of 600 for his career, had two assists versus Arizona and recorded a goal and 12 assists in 10 December games after missing November because of a facial fracture.
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (16-18-5): Calder Trophy candidate Brock Boeser (team highs of 21 goals, 38 points) was held off the scoresheet Saturday after scoring in four straight games and recording eight points during that span. Daniel and Henrik Sedin (two goals this season) haven't recorded a point in the last three contests with Henrik on pace to record the fewest goals in his 17-year career. Defenseman Troy Stecher (minus-3, average of ice time of 16:03 in 25 games) left Saturday's contest with an undisclosed injury and is questionable to play Tuesday while fellow blue-liner Chris Tanev (plus-9, 20:51, 25 games) could return after missing seven contests with a groin injury.
OVERTIME
1. Ducks D Josh Manson is a team-high plus-14 after going plus-7 in 15 December games, and his 17 points are tied for sixth on the club.
2. Vancouver is 0-for-10 on the power play in its last four games after going 6-for-15 in its previous four contests.
3. Anaheim won the first of four meetings this season 4-1 on Nov. 9 with Jakob Silfverberg scoring twice and Rakell recording three assists. It was Silfverberg's first two-goal game since Jan. 31.