Canucks at Ducks
THE STORY: The only thing the Vancouver Canucks and Ducks have in common is that they both enter Thursday’s meeting in Anaheim coming off a win in San Jose. Vancouver has moved into its familiar perch atop the Northwest Division with a 14-3-1 run following its 3-2 overtime victory over the Sharks on Wednesday. For their part, the Ducks are buried deep in the Pacific Division cellar, 14 points behind third-place Phoenix. The Ducks snapped a 13-game road losing streak with a 3-2 win against the Sharks on Monday and are 3-6-2 overall since Bruce Boudreau took over as coach. The teams have alternated victories in the last six meetings. The Canucks, though, are 1-4-0 in the second of back-to-back games this season, including a 4-3 loss Nov. 11 at Anaheim in the team’s last meeting.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, KDOC (Anaheim), SNET-Pacific (Vancouver)
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (23-12-2): Andrew Ebbett has three goals in his last two games, including a deflection of Kevin Bieksa’s shot from the point in overtime Wednesday. He is making an impression on coach Alain Vigneault after missing six weeks with a fractured foot. After a slow start, Alexandre Burrows has heated up with five goals in his last seven games. With 14, Burrows is one behind Daniel Sedin for the team lead. LW Chris Higgins is expected to miss his second straight game with a staph infection on his hand.
ABOUT THE DUCKS (10-19-6): Anaheim rookie RW Devante Smith-Pelley broke a bone in his foot Monday while on loan to Canada in the World Junior Hockey Championship and is expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks. C Saku Koivu has missed seven games with a leg injury, but skated Monday and is close to returning. G Jonas Hiller (9-14-6) entered the season 89-61-9 and has a career 2.60 goals against average and .918 save percentage, much better than the 3.06 and .902 he has posted in 2011-12.
OVERTIME:
1. Vancouver has the top power play in the league at 25.0 percent.
2. The over is 5-1 in the last six meetings.