Sharks at Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks attempt to complete their three-game homestand with a perfect record when they host the Pacific Division-rival San Jose Sharks on Monday. After dropping a shootout decision in San Jose on Tuesday, Anaheim returned home to post a 3-1 triumph over the Minnesota Wild on Friday and outlasted the reigning Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings 7-4 the following night. Nick Bonino starred for the Ducks, recording his first career hat trick and adding an assist.
San Jose was unable to run the table during its six-game homestand as it fell to the Nashville Predators 2-1 in a shootout on Saturday. It was the third consecutive shootout for the Sharks, who began the season with seven wins in a row. Beginning Monday, San Jose plays seven of its next nine games on the road.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, CSN California (San Jose), FSN West (Anaheim)
ABOUT THE SHARKS (7-0-1): Coach Todd McLellan probably was asking too much of Michal Handzus. The center was stopped by Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne on the first attempt of Saturday's shootout after beginning the bonus format with what proved to be the decisive goal in each of the previous two games. Right wing Martin Havlat earned the Sharks a point Saturday with a power-play tally with 6:21 remaining in the third period, atoning for a mental miscue midway through the second. After Ryane Clowe's shot hit the left post, Havlat raised his arms to celebrate while skating past the loose puck in the crease. Clowe defended his teammate after the game. "That wasn't Marty's fault. He thought I scored. I shot it through a screen. I thought it went in as well."
ABOUT THE DUCKS (5-1-1): Anaheim lost Cam Fowler in the second period Saturday as the defenseman suffered an upper-body injury after being rammed into the boards by Los Angeles' Jarret Stoll. "He's not feeling very good," coach Bruce Boudreau said. "Stoll hit him pretty good from behind. (The league) has to look at that." Right wing Teemu Selanne's empty-net goal against the Kings was his 1,415th career point, moving him past Doug Gilmour for sole possession of 17th place on the all-time list. Selanne is five points away from tying Adam Oates for 16th. Right wing Emerson Etem notched his first two career points by assisting on each of Bonino's first two goals.
OVERTIME
1. Anaheim begins a six-game road trip Wednesday at Colorado.
2. The Sharks have successfully killed 21 consecutive penalties.
3. San Jose Cs Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau have been kept off the scoresheet in each of the last two games after starting the season with six-game point streaks.
PREDICTION: Ducks 4, Sharks 3.