Ducks at Blackhawks
The top two teams in the Western Conference square off Friday as the Central Division-leading Chicago Blackhawks host the Anaheim Ducks, who reside atop the Pacific. Chicago has been mediocre since its NHL-record, season-opening 24-game point streak as it has split its last eight contests and been overtaken in the race for the Presidents' Trophy by the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Blackhawks halted their second two-game slide by posting a 2-0 victory over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday.
Anaheim has hit the skids of late as it brings a four-game losing streak into Friday's showdown. The Ducks won a franchise-record 13 straight home contests before falling to Detroit on March 22. They lost to the Red Wings at the Honda Center again two days later and were swept of a home-and-home series with the Sharks, ending the set with a 4-0 loss at San Jose.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, NHL Network, FSN West (Anaheim), CSN (Chicago)
ABOUT THE DUCKS (22-7-4): With its flight to Chicago delayed on Thursday morning, Anaheim remained in San Jose and worked out at the Sharks' practice facility. Coach Bruce Boudreau called for the practice after stating the club had too many "passengers" in Wednesday's loss. Defenseman Francois Beauchemin agreed with Boudreau's decision. "It's all about work," he told the Orange County Register. "We're not working hard enough right now. We're not winning battles. It shows on the ice."
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (25-4-3): Chicago continues to be short-handed as Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa remain out with upper-body injuries. While both practiced with the team Thursday for the first time since getting hurt, Sharp will miss his ninth consecutive game on Friday and Hossa will sit out his fourth in a row. "I feel like I'm right there," Sharp said. "I have been doing a lot of skating, the legs feel good. It's just a matter of getting some timing back." Hossa was more vague about his return. "I don't set any dates," he said. "I'll play when I feel 100 percent."
OVERTIME
1. The Ducks look to complete a sweep of the season series against the Blackhawks. They posted a 3-2 shootout win in Chicago on Feb. 12 and a 4-2 home triumph on March 20.
2. RW Radek Dvorak made his debut for the Ducks on Thursday and registered one shot on goal in 11:08 of ice time.
3. Anaheim has won only three of its last 10 visits to Chicago.
PREDICTION: Blackhawks 4, Ducks 3