Sharks at Ducks
THE STORY: With their season on the line, the last team the San Jose Sharks want to play is Anaheim, even though the Ducks are hopelessly out of playoff contention. The Ducks, who are in full spoiler mode, have won four of five meetings entering Wednesday’s season series finale in Anaheim. The Sharks took over first place in the Pacific Division – and moved from ninth to third in the Western Conference – when they capped a 3-0-0 homestand with a 5-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Monday.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, NBCS, KDOC-Los Angeles (Ducks), CS California (Sharks)
ABOUT THE SHARKS (39-27-10): San Jose leads the Pacific by one point over Dallas and Phoenix - who are tied for seventh in the West - and two points over Los Angeles. “We haven’t done anything yet,’’ captain Joe Thornton said. “We have to keep winning to make the playoffs.’’ After Wednesday, the Sharks have five games remaining – at Phoenix and home-and-home sets with Dallas and Los Angeles. Joe Pavelski reached 300 career points with two goals Monday and defenseman Dan Boyle reached 500 with the first of his two assists. Pavelski has five goals in his last six games. The Sharks haven’t won four in a row since Jan. 2-7.
ABOUT THE DUCKS (32-33-11): Anaheim is on the verge of being eliminated from playoff contention, but that won’t affect its effort. “We’ll continue doing what we’re doing, which is playing hard,’’ coach Bruce Boudreau said. “We get a chance to stop San Jose. …’’ Goaltender Jonas Hiller is expected to add to his franchise record when he makes his 70th start of the season. Hiller has owned the Sharks recently with a 5-1-0 mark and a 1.92 goals against average. Bobby Ryan has four points in his last three games and needs three goals to reach 30 for the fourth straight season.
OVERTIME:
1. Anaheim won the last meeting 5-3 at San Jose on March 19. The road team has won four straight in the series.
2. The Sharks scored more than three goals Monday for the first time in 21 games.