Ducks at Canucks
The Anaheim Ducks look to extend their point streak to four games before the end of the calendar year as they visit the Vancouver Canucks on Friday night. The Ducks earned an important 3-1 victory at Calgary on Thursday to snap a three-game winless streak — two of the losses coming in overtime — as forward Jakob Silfverberg scored for the third consecutive game.
John Gibson turned aside 31 shots in the win and center Antoine Vermette recorded a goal and an assist Thursday for Anaheim, which stands two points behind first-place San Jose in the Pacific Division. The Canucks have posted at least a point in four of the last six games after a solid 2-1 victory over Los Angeles on Wednesday as goalie Ryan Miller stopped 36 of the 37 shots he faced. “I think he’s one of the best in the league,” Vancouver coach Willie Desjardins told reporters. “When he’s on, he’s on. He made some good saves and he was confident.” Daniel Sedin remains one assist shy of 600 assists in his career after being held without a point the last three games for the Canucks.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, FSN West (Anaheim), Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver)
ABOUT THE DUCKS (18-12-7): Ryan Kesler’s goal drought grew to 10 games Thursday, but the veteran center notched a pair of assists to increase his team-leading total to 31 points — three better than captain Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Forward Rickard Rakell scored his team-leading 15th goal to snap a four-game drought against Calgary while Perry posted just his second point in seven games with an assist. Sami Vatanen (illness) missed his second straight game and fellow defenseman Brandon Montour made his NHL debut Thursday.
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (15-18-3): Miller was helped along by the return of defenseman Alexander Edler to the lineup after the 30-year-old missed 11 games with a broken finger. “He made such a difference coming back,” Desjardins told the media of his top-pair blue liner. “I don’t think we get the win without Edler coming in.” Captain Henrik Sedin leads the team in scoring with 23 points — one better than his twin brother Daniel and Bo Horvat — and had a goal against Los Angeles, leaving him seven points shy of 1,000 for his career.
OVERTIME
1. Vancouver LW Alex Burrows is slated to play his 800th NHL game Friday night.
2. Anaheim has scored at least two power-play goals in three of its last six contests.
3. The Ducks have gained at least a point in six of the last seven meetings, including a pair of wins this season.