Ducks at Blue Jackets
THE STORY: It is difficult to find a statistical category in which the Columbus Blue Jackets do not rank in the bottom third of the NHL. The most important category - team points - finds the Blue Jackets in dead last with just three. Columbus has dropped its last two by a combined 9-4. While the scoring could use a boost, the defense is the real tragedy. The Blue Jackets rank last in the league on the penalty kill, stopping under 70 percent of their chances, and are surrendering an average of 3.54 goals. After getting shut out on Saturday night, the porous Columbus defense is exactly the thing the Anaheim Ducks want to see. The Ducks have dropped four of their last five and will be looking to get their offense back on track when they visit the Blue Jackets on Sunday.
TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket, Fox Sports Ohio
ABOUT THE DUCKS (5-4-1): Jonas Hiller has started all but two of Anaheim’s games in goal and may be due for a break. The Switzerland native has allowed three or more goals in three of the last five games. Corey Perry had his seven-game point streak snapped in Saturday’s 3-0 loss at Nashville. It marked the Ducks’ first shutout of the season and dropped them to last place in the Pacific Division.
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (1-9-1): Nothing seems to be going right in Columbus. Steve Mason finally got his first night off on Saturday but rookie Allen York could not get a win. The Blue Jackets tied it on Derek MacKenzie’s goal in the second but allowed three unanswered tallies in the third.
OVERTIME:
1. Mackenzie has a goal in two of the last three games after failing to score in the first eight.
2. The teams split four meetings last season, with Anaheim taking the final two.
3. Dan Ellis will likely get the start in net for the Ducks on Sunday. He is 5-1-1 with a 1.47 goals against average against Columbus in his career.