GDT: Ducks VS Hurricanes 02/03/2015

Ducks Aim to Bounce Back Against Hurricanes

HURRICANES (17-26-6) at DUCKS (32-12-6)


TV: FS-CR, PRIME


The Latest: The Pacific Division-leading Anaheim Ducks (32-12-6, 70 pts.) conclude a two-game homestand vs. the Carolina Hurricanes tonight at Honda Center (7 p.m. PST, Prime Ticket/AM 830). Currently co-leading the NHL in standings points with Nashville, the Ducks have won six of the last eight games (6-2-0) and gone 10-4-1 in the last 15. Anaheim finished the month of January with an 8-3-0 record, tied for third among NHL teams in victories and tied for the third-best points percentage in club history (.727). The Ducks recently became the first NHL team to 70 points this season and earlier posted the most wins coming out of an All-Star break in franchise history (31). Anaheim is 23-1-5 when scoring first this season, one of five NHL teams with only one regulation loss in such situations. The Ducks (16-0-2) also join New Jersey as the only two clubs without a regulation loss when leading after one. With a power-play goal in seven of the last nine games, the club is 8-for-25 (32.0%) on the power play and 26-for-29 in penalty kills (89.7%) since Jan. 7.


Following tonight's game, the Ducks will embark on a nine-day, five-game road trip that begins Thursday, Feb. 5 at Nashville (5 p.m. PST). The road trip also includes stops in Washington (Feb. 6), Tampa Bay (Feb. 8), Florida (Feb. 10) and Carolina (Feb. 12). Anaheim's next home game is Sunday, Feb. 15 vs. Washington.


Ducks-Hurricanes: Anaheim and Carolina will play a two-game season series over a 10-day span beginning tonight at Honda Center. The Ducks are 13-12-3 vs. the Hurricanes all-time and 8-5-1 at Honda Center. Anaheim has won a franchise-best three straight home games vs. Carolina dating to Nov. 25, 2009 and is 6-3-1 in the last 10 games in Orange County. These two teams split the 2013-14 season series, which included a 5-3 Anaheim win on Mar. 2, 2014 and a 3-2 Carolina shootout victory on Nov. 15, 2013. Corey Perry paces current Ducks skaters in career scoring vs. the Hurricanes with 10 points (5g/5a) in nine games. The 2014-15 season series will conclude next Thursday, Feb. 12 at PNC Arena.


Ducks team scope: Anaheim has lost two straight games after falling to the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks by a combined 10-4 margin this past Thursday and Friday. "There's a lot of pride in the room," coach Bruce Boudreau said after practice on Monday. "We're upset that we've lost two. It doesn't mean we're not going to lose three, but they're sure cognizant of that fact." Those losses snapped a six-game winning streak for the Ducks, who remain comfortably ahead of San Jose for first place in the Pacific Division. Boudreau decided to switch up his top two lines at practice, shifting Matt Beleskey to the top line with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry and moving Patrick Maroon to the second line with Ryan Kesler and Kyle Palmieri. “I switch them every now and again when I think they’re getting a little stale,” said Boudreau, referring to the top two lines. “Just to add a little jump. That’s the one good thing about those guys being here for the last few years. Matty’s been up and down with that line and Patty’s been playing with three of the four lines. It might be a breath of fresh air.”


Hurricanes team scope: Despite losing the past two games, the Hurricanes are coming off a January in which they went 7-3-2, by far their best month of the season. Incidentally, forward Jordan Staal returned to the Carolina lineup for the first time this season on Dec. 29 after missing 35 games with a broken leg, and has scored a goal and added eight assists in 13 games. After an impressive stretch, the Hurricanes are coming off their first regulation loss in five games, a 4-1 defeat against the New York Rangers on Saturday. The Hurricanes' 40 points are the third-fewest in the league.




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