Sharks at Ducks
THE STORY: A lack of rest will not be an issue Friday when the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks face off at the Honda Center. Both teams have been idle since Saturday, when San Jose opened the season with a 6-3 home victory over the Phoenix Coyotes and Anaheim posted a 2-1 shootout triumph over the New York Rangers in Stockholm, Sweden. Thomas Greiss will make his second start of the campaign for the Sharks if Antti Niemi is still unable to go after having a cyst removed from his knee. Anaheim struggled to score goals during its season-opening, two-game stint in Europe, tallying just once in each contest. Neither goal came on the power play, leaving the Ducks 0-for-11 with the man advantage. The Pacific Division rivals split their six-game series last season.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, CSN California, Prime Ticket, NHL Network
ABOUT THE SHARKS (1-0-0): Patrick Marleau, who recorded a pair of assists in Saturday's win, has been kept from practicing this week by the flu but is expected to be in the lineup against Anaheim. The Sharks are looking to get off to a good start on the road this season. San Jose lost its last five games away from the HP Pavilion. Newcomer Martin Havlat still is awaiting clearance to play after undergoing shoulder surgery in May.
ABOUT THE DUCKS (1-1-0): Defenseman Kurtis Foster accepted a conditioning assignment to Syracuse of the AHL after missing the majority of training camp with inflammation in his left thigh. The 29-year old, who was acquired from Edmonton in July, is slated to play for Syracuse on Friday and Saturday before returning to the Ducks. Troy Bodie is back for his second stint with Anaheim. The 26-year old Bodie, who spent parts of three seasons with the Ducks before being claimed off waivers from Carolina last November, signed with Anaheim on Wednesday after failing to catch on with Winnipeg during a preseason tryout.
OVERTIME:
1. Anaheim is one of six teams yet to convert a power-play opportunity this season.
2. The home team has had quite an advantage of late in the all-time series, winning eight of the last 10 meetings.