The Battle of California commences on Friday night as the Anaheim Ducks host the San Jose Sharks in the second of a 3-game homestand.
After allowing eight goals in a loss to the Calgary Flames on Sunday, the fans were expecting to the team to get back in the win column on Wednesday with three days of rest.
Win they did, but it was not pretty. One would argue that the win didn’t go to the better team that night as the Carolina Hurricanes were the ones winning the puck battles and spent more time in the Ducks zone than their own.
The Ducks somehow managed overcome a two goal deficit with 4 minutes left to play in regulation to eventually defeat the Carolina Hurricanes, 6-5, in the shootout.
The win places the Ducks in 3rd place in the Pacific, which leads up to a date with the defending Western Conference Champion, San Jose Sharks.
Anaheim Ducks
AT A GLANCE:
2016-17 Record: 13-9-5 (31 points)
Home Record: 8-4-1
2016-17 Record vs. Sharks: 1-0-1
Goals For/Against: 73/72 ( +1)
Power Play: 22.1% (5th)
Penalty Kill: 80.9% (21st)
Injury Report: Clayton Stoner (upper body, indefinitely), Rickard Rakell (upper body, day-to-day), Simon Despres (concussion, LTIR)
San Jose Sharks
AT A GLANCE:
2016-17 Record: 15-10-1 (31 points)
Away Record: 6-6-1
2016-17 Record vs. Ducks: 1-1-0
Goals For/Against: 62/55 (+7)
Power Play: 18.5% (13th)
Penalty Kill: 83.1% (14th)
Injury Report: Tomas Hertl (knee, few weeks), David Schlemko (lower body, day-to-day)
Notes
With the announcement of Ryan Garbutt being placed on waivers Thursday, Joseph Cramarossa figures to be the man to fill his place on the fourth line.
In the win over Carolina, Stefan Noesen scored his first NHL goal while Corey Perry potted his first goal since October 26, ending the longest goal drought of his career at 18 games.
Puck drop is scheduled to drop at 7:30 PM Pacific. Watch on Fox Sports Prime or listen on AM 830 KLAA.