The Ducks (41-32-5) host the Sharks (37-33-7) for the fourth and ultimate common season assembly between the groups this season.
Puck drop is about for 7 p.m. PT and can air on KCOP-13 and Victory+.
Anaheim’s nonetheless in search of their first win since late March after falling to the Predators, 5-0, on Tuesday.
“It’s not the optimal time to be losing games, obviously, in the season,” Alex Killorn stated. “We put ourselves in a pretty good spot and we’re kind of throwing it away a little bit here at the end. But there’s still plenty of games left to get those points back.”
“We didn’t get any offense and our team game didn’t pick up any momentum off it as well, so it kind of stymied us,” head coach Joel Quenneville stated. “Our penalty kill, on certain nights, it’s been decent.”
Heading into tonight, Anaheim is now third within the Pacific Division with 87 factors; one level behind Vegas (second) and three factors behind Edmonton (first).
San Jose comes into Honda Center on the second evening of a back-to-back after dropping to Edmonton, 5-2, final evening.
“Just this time of year, you’ve got to play simple, direct hockey in the offensive zone, especially,” Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky stated. “We can’t seem to grasp that consistently enough right now.”
The Sharks are at the moment fifth within the division and three factors behind the Predators for the ultimate Western Conference wild card spot.
They’ll be a troublesome job for the Ducks as they’re a workforce determined to maintain their playoff aspirations alive. Part of that push has come from the 108-point season from Macklin Celebrini.
“There’s always pressure,” Killorn stated. “Especially if you get to the top of the season, when factors are so necessary, when you’ll be able to type of see the place you are gonna end off. But now we have to type of embrace that.
“[Anaheim] has been in a position where these games don’t even matter. So I think we have to be confident and show that we’re pretty happy to be in this position and make the most of the last four games.”
While the Ducks didn’t maintain a morning skate at the moment, in Wednesday’s apply, Radko Gudas (lower-body) returned to the ice in a non-contact jersey whereas Cutter Gauthier remained out.
