Thanks to the lockout, the abbreviated 2012-13 schedule has the Anaheim Ducks and Phoenix Coyotes meeting only four times. Three of those encounters take place over the next five days, a stretch that begins with the Pacific Division rivals facing off in Phoenix on Saturday. The clubs battle at Jobing.com Arena again on Monday before heading to Anaheim to conclude the series on Wednesday.
The Ducks edged the Minnesota Wild 3-2 on Friday, scoring the game's first three goals before holding on for their eighth consecutive home victory. At 15-3-1, Anaheim is off to the best start through 19 games in franchise history. Phoenix is coming off a 4-3 home loss to Minnesota on Thursday in which it came up short during a third-period comeback attempt. The Coyotes have lost in regulation only twice in their last eight home contests (5-2-1).
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Anaheim), FSN Arizona (Phoenix)
ABOUT THE DUCKS (15-3-1): Teemu Selanne scored his 669th career goal Friday, giving him sole possession of 11th place on the all-time list. The "Finnish Flash" had been tied with Hall of Famer Luc Robitaille. The goal was Selanne's 1,423rd point, putting him two behind Bryan Trottier for 15th place all time. Captain Ryan Getzlaf opened the scoring against Minnesota to extend his point streak to five games. He has collected 10 points in that span. The tally was set up by Corey Perry, whose point streak - which consists of four goals and eight assists - reached seven contests.
ABOUT THE COYOTES (9-8-3): Members of the Coyotes were as surprised as anyone to see the three-game series against Anaheim on the schedule once it was released. "We all kind of looked at it and shook our heads and said, 'Hey, what's going on here?'" goaltender Jason Labarbera said. "I don't think I've ever been on a team that has played three (non-playoff) games in a row against the same team." Radim Vrbata (lower body) and Martin Hanzal (upper body) will not play Saturday. Hanzal, who has missed four games, leads the team with seven goals while Vrbata, who has sat out five contests, is third on the club with 12 points. Phoenix added some size from the minors Friday, recalling 6-2 center Chris Brown and 6-3 LW Rob Klinkhammer from Portland of the American Hockey League. Brown has yet to make his NHL debut.
OVERTIME
1. The Ducks are 15 points ahead of last season's pace after 19 games.
2. Coyotes captain Shane Doan is tied with Keith Tkachuk for second place on the franchise list with 323 goals.
3. Anaheim G Viktor Fasth, who is 9-1-0 in his first 10 NHL decisions, is likely to start Saturday.
PREDICTION: Coyotes 3, Ducks 1