GDT: Ducks @ Coyotes; 12/27/2014

League-Leading Ducks Head to the Desert to Face Division Rival Coyotes


DUCKS (23-8-5) at COYOTES (12-18-4)


TV: PRIME, FS-A


The Latest: The NHL-leading Anaheim Ducks (23-8-5, 51 pts.) return from the Christmas break to take on the Arizona Coyotes Saturday at Gila River Arena (5 p.m. PST, Prime Ticket/AM 830). Currently leading the NHL in standings points and co-leading in victories, the Ducks have won nine of their last 11 games (9-2-0), gone 12-4-0 in their last 16 and earned 51 points in their last 35 (23-7-5). Anaheim also owns an NHL-best 12-5-2 road record and has won five of its last seven games away from Honda Center.


Saturday's game marks the only time the Ducks will travel away from Southern California over a span of 37 consecutive days (beginning Dec. 20 through Jan. 25), and also begins the club's seventh set of back-to-back games this season. The Ducks are 6-5-1 in back-to-back games in 2014-15, including 3-2-1 in the opening game. Dating to the start of the 2013-14 season, Anaheim is 26-10-4 in back-to-back situations and 14-4-2 in the second game, an NHL best by win percentage (.750). The back-to-back set will conclude Sunday when the Ducks host the Vancouver Canucks at Honda Center (5 p.m. PST).


Ducks-Coyotes: Anaheim and Arizona play the third game a five-game season series at Gila River Arena. The Ducks have earned standings points in seven straight games vs. the Coyotes (6-0-1) and own an all-time record of 63-32-17 vs. their Pacific Division rival. Anaheim is 27-11-10 in Arizona and has won the last two games in Glendale dating to a 4-2 win on Nov. 23, 2013. The Ducks are 1-0-1 the Coyotes this season, dropping a 3-2 shootout on Nov. 7 and earning a 2-1 victory on Nov. 23.


With 16-38=54 points in 54 career games, Ryan Getzlaf leads the Ducks in career scoring vs. the Coyotes. This season,Ryan Kesler has a team-best three points (0-3=3) in the two games. These two teams will meet two additional times at Gila River Arena on Mar. 3 (6 p.m. PST) and Apr. 11 (6 p.m. PDT).


Ducks team scope: The club's 3-2 overtime victory Monday against the Sharks increased their lead in the Pacific Division to eight points over San Jose and improved their record in one-goal games to 17-0-5. Getzlaf had two assists Monday and is on a six-game point streak (4-6=10). Goalie Frederik Andersen's 19 wins are tied for second in the NHL. Anaheim could be without forward Tim Jackman, who left the game Monday after a hit by Sharks forward John Scott and was under evaluation. Scott was subsequently suspended four games.


Ducks Holiday Highlights: Since Dec. 1, the Ducks lead the NHL in wins (9-2-0) and rank fourth in goals scored (35, excluding shootout goals). Among December league leaders, Getzlaf leads in scoring (5-12=17) and assists, and Kesler is tied for sixth in goals (6). Among NHL defensemen, Sami Vatanen ranks tied for third in goals (4) and Andersen leads NHL goaltenders in wins (9-1-0). Anaheim owns a 20-3-0 record over the last two Decembers (.870) and is also two wins shy of matching the most December victories in club history (11-1-1 in 2013).


Coyotes team scope: Led by forward Sam Gagner's two goals and two assists, the Coyotes salvaged a three-game road trip with a 5-1 win Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers. Arizona won for the third time in 13 games (3-9-1) and is next-to-last in the Pacific Division. "Obviously the year hasn't gone the way we had hoped," said Gagner. "But the only thing you can control is what's ahead of us and that's gotta be our focus going forward." Coyotes coach Dave Tippett reunited Gagner with center Martin Hanzal and wing Martin Erat, and the trio combined for nine points against the Oilers. "Just scrambling around, looking for something," Tippett said. Forward Lauri Korpikoski (lower body) has missed the past four games. Defenseman Chris Summers (upper body) is day-to-day.

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