Sharks at Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are making their push for a playoff position and look to knock off one of their chief competitors when they host the San Jose Sharks on Sunday in a key Pacific Division battle. The Ducks are 8-3-1 in their last 12 contests and took the first two of a five-game homestand, including Friday’s 2-1 triumph against rival Los Angeles.
“We’re in a mode that every game counts, and obviously these division games are extra special,” Anaheim’s Ryan Kesler told reporters after scoring his third goal in his 10th game of the campaign following offseason hip surgery. The Ducks are 8-4-5 against division rivals in 2017-18 and have split a pair of shootout decisions against the Sharks, who have won four of their last five games - including a 2-1 home triumph over Pittsburgh on Saturday. San Jose is even better against fellow Pacific teams (11-2-3) and sits in second place in the division - three points ahead of fifth-place Anaheim. Backup Aaron Dell (11-3-2) may make his second straight start for the Sharks on Sunday with Martin Jones considered day-to-day due to what the club is calling a “minor lower-body injury.”
TV: 9 p.m. ET, NBCS California (San Jose), Prime Ticket (Anaheim)
ABOUT THE SHARKS (25-14-6): Reigning Norris Trophy winner Brent Burns continued to improve his season totals with a pair of assists on Saturday, giving him 12 of his team-leading 37 points in the last nine games. Veteran Joe Thornton had his four-game goal-scoring streak snapped against Pittsburgh but is second on the team with 33 points - one more than both Logan Couture and captain Joe Pavelski, who set up two tallies on Saturday. Tomas Hertl delivered his 13th goal in the latest victory, giving him at least a point in three straight contests.
ABOUT THE DUCKS (22-16-9): Ondrej Kase recorded an assist in Friday’s victory for his sixth point in his last four contests, pushing his season total to 21. All-Star Rickard Rakell leads the team in goals (16) and points (33) while captain Ryan Getzlaf has collected 22 assists in just 23 games during a season interrupted by injuries. John Gibson (16-13-5, .923 save percentage) has won each of his last three starts, allowing six goals on 82 shots, and is 2-0-2 lifetime against the Sharks.
OVERTIME
1. Thornton has registered 1,424 career points and needs one to tie Hall-of-Famer Bryan Trottier for 16th place on the all-time list.
2. Anaheim C Adam Henrique has recorded a goal in each of his last two games and seven overall in 22 contests since being acquired from New Jersey.
3. The Ducks have earned at least one point in 10 consecutive games against the Sharks (7-0-3).