GDT: Ducks VS Devils; 01/16/2015

Ducks Look to Conclude Eight-Game Homestand with a Win vs. Devils



DEVILS (16-21-8) at DUCKS (28-10-6)


TV: MSG+, FS-W


The Latest: The Pacific Division-leading Anaheim Ducks (28-10-6, 62 pts.) conclude a season-high eight-game homestand Friday vs. New Jersey at Honda Center (7 p.m. PST, Fox Sports West/AM 830). Currently co-leading the NHL in standings points with Nashville, the Ducks have won four of their last five games (4-1-0) and have points in seven of the last nine (6-2-1, 13 pts.). The club is also 14-4-1 in its last 19 games and 17-6-1 in its last 24. At Honda Center, the Ducks have won nine of their last 11 games (9-2-0). The Ducks recently concluded the first half leading the league in standings points and co-leading in wins with the second-best first-half record in club history (behind only 28-8-5 in 2013-14). The club is in the midst of 36-of-37 days within Southern California (beginning Dec. 20 through Jan. 25). This marks Anaheim's longest stretch of consecutive home games since Mar. 2-23, 2007, when the club went 6-1-1 in a similar eight-game homestand. Friday's game also opens Anaheim's eighth set of back-to-back games this season. The Ducks are 7-5-2 in back-to-backs, including 3-2-2 in the first game. Dating to the start of the 2013-14 season, Anaheim is 27-10-5 in back-to-back situations and 15-4-2 in the second game, an NHL best by points percentage (.762). The back-to-back concludes Saturday night in Los Angeles (8 p.m.).


Ducks-Devils: Anaheim and New Jersey begin a two-game season series Friday at Honda Center. The Ducks own an all-time record of 9-13-4 vs. New Jersey along with a 6-6-2 mark in Anaheim. These two teams last met on Dec. 20, 2013, a 3-2 overtime win for the Ducks at Prudential Center. Following Friday's game, Anaheim and New Jersey will not meet again until Sunday, March 29 in Newark.


Ducks team scope: Anaheim has won four of five to start 2015, scoring 15 non-shootout goals in the victories. Corey Perry had three of them in a 4-0 win against the Maple Leafs on Wednesday for his third hat trick this season and eighth of his NHL career. The other goal came from Kyle Palmieri, who has eight goals in 20 games. All-star Ryan Getzlaf has seven goals and 28 points in his past 18 games. Frederik Andersen, who comes off his second shutout, has won 44 of his 60 NHL decisions, the best start by a goaltender since 1944. His 24 wins this season trail only Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators (29).


Devils team scope: No Jaromir Jagr has been no problem for New Jersey this season. Jagr was out of the lineup Wednesday with the flu, and just as the Devils did when he missed a Dec. 4 game at the Toronto Maple Leafs, they scored five goals and won 5-3, this time against the defending Stanley Cup champion Kings to begin their three-game California trip. Jagr and forward Tuomo Ruutu, who was also out with the flu, aren't expected back until the Devils return home. Defenseman Marek Zidlicky missed part of the first period after taking an Alec Martinez slap shot off his thumb, but returned for the second and practiced Thursday. Defenseman Mark Fraser did not practice. The Devils are 4-4-1 since general manager Lou Lamoriello fired coach Peter DeBoer and took over behind the bench along with Scott Stevens andAdam Oates.

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