GDT: Ducks VS Jets; Game 72; 03-31-2014;

Ducks Begin Three-game Homestand vs. Jets


JETS (33-33-9) at DUCKS (48-18-8)


TV: TSN-JETS, KDOC


Last 10: Winnipeg 3-5-2; Anaheim 5-4-1


Season series: Anaheim and Winnipeg conclude a three-game season series tonight at Honda Center. Both teams have earned a 3-2 victory in 2013-14, including a Ducks win on October 6 at the MTS Center and a Jets victory on January 21 at Honda Center. The Ducks are 8-7-1 all-time vs. the Jets/Thrashers franchise (3-4-1 in Anaheim) Prior to the January 21 contest, the last time a Winnipeg team had visited Honda Center was April 14, 1996 when the Ducks skated to a 5-2 victory over the original Jets club.


Jakob Silfverberg (2a) leads the Ducks in scoring vs. Winnipeg this season, while Anaheim’s six goals against the Jets have come from six different skaters.


Big story: The Ducks reclaimed first place in the Pacific Division after defeating the Vancouver Canucks 5-1 on Saturday while winning their 48th game to tie the franchise record for wins in a single season (2006-07). After clinching a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last week, the Ducks look to build momentum on a three-game homestand that opens Monday against the Jets.


Ducks forward Teemu Selanne, who began his NHL career with the original Winnipeg Jets, will play his final game against the franchise that relocated to Winnipeg from Atlanta in 2011.


Winnipeg has lost four of its past six games and 10 of 13, and trail the eighth-place Phoenix Coyotes by nine points with seven games left.


Team Scope:


Ducks: Anaheim's schedule is favorable down the stretch, which bodes well for their chances of winning the Pacific Division. The Ducks play five of their final eight games at Honda Center, where they're 25-7-4, and starting with the Jets play their next five against teams outside of the playoff picture before concluding against the San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche.


"We not only want first place, but to be playing as well as we can going into the playoffs," said rookie goalie Frederik Andersen. "Now, we'll focus on those last eight games, and focus on how we played earlier in the season now that we're in crunch time."


Jets: Winnipeg recalled three players from the St. John's IceCaps on Sunday: defensemen Ben Chiarot and Zach Redmond, and goalie Michael Hutchinson.


Hutchinson was called back less than 24 hours after he was sent to St. John's. He backed up goalie Al Montoya while starter Ondrej Pavelec recovered from a lower-body injury. Pavelec returned to action Saturday and allowed three goals on 16 shots before he was pulled after the first period.


The Jets were off Sunday and the Winnipeg Free Press reported that coach Paul Maurice would address the situation Monday at the morning skate.


Who's hot: Ducks center Mathieu Perreault is on a career-high eight-game point streak (6g/3a) and has 12 points (8g/5a) in his past 16 games. Forward Corey Perry has 14 points (8g/6a) in his past 12 games. Center Ryan Getzlaf has seven points in his past five games. ... Jets forward Blake Wheeler has seven points (three goals, four assists) in his past five games. Center Bryan Little is on a five-game point streak (2-4-6)


Injury report: Ducks defenseman Mark Fistric (lower body) missed his sixth straight game Saturday. Getzlaf left the game Saturday late in the third period for precautionary reasons after taking a shot off his foot. Defenseman Cam Fowler(sprained MCL) in on IR. ... Jets defenseman Zach Bogosian (upper body) missed the game Saturday and is day-to-day. Defenseman Grant Clitsome (back surgery), and forwards Mark Scheifele (sprained MCL), Chris Thorburn (broken foot) and James Wright (sprained ankle) are on injured reserve …

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