Anaheim Ducks Daily Links: First Game Post-All-Star Break

Good day, Anaheim Ducks fans! It’s been almost a week, but it’s finally a Ducks gameday for the first time since January 21st. The Ducks have traveled to British Columbia to take on the Vancouver Canucks, in a Pacific Division clash. The Ducks have a 13 points lead on the Canucks in the Pacific Division standings and a 12 point lead overall. No other division winner’s lead is more than three games (the New York Islanders’ over the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Nashville Predators’ over the St. Louis Blues).

Both teams had a representative in the All-Star Game, with Ryan Getzlaf for the Ducks and Radim Vrbata for the Canucks. Getzlaf and Team Toews got the better of Vrbata and Team Foligno, but both players scored the first goals for their respective All-Star teams.

This is the fourth meeting between the two Pacific Division teams this season. Each of the three meetings have gone past regulation, with the teams trading shootout wins in November while Cam Fowler scored the overtime winner on December 28th to give the Ducks a 2-0-1 edge in the season series.

The playoff push continues for both clubs. The Ducks are on a mission to clinch the best playoff position possible, while the Canucks are clinging onto their playoff spot. Though they sit in third place in the Pacific Division, they hold a two point lead over the second wild-card Calgary Flames and three point lead over the Los Angeles Kings. Falling out of the third spot in the Pacific could be crucial, as the first wild-card in the West has 60 points already (the Winnipeg Jets). However, second and fifth place in the Pacific is separated by four points (the San Jose Sharks have 56 points, while the Kings have 52).

It’s back to the grind for many teams tonight. Here are some Ducks and NHL news to keep the day going along.