Ducks and Sharks Renew Rivalry in San Jose
NHL.com
DUCKS (30-32-11) at SHARKS (36-25-10)
TV: NBCSN (HD), PRIME (HD), CSN-CA (HD)
Last 10: Anaheim 3-6-1; San Jose 4-3-3.
Season Series: This is the fifth of six meetings between the Pacific Division rivals. Anaheim has won three of the first four showdowns.
Big Story: Anaheim will be looking to bounce back from back-to-back defeats to the Kings and Predators over the weekend. Two huge points are on the line for San Jose, which was bounced from the eighth spot Sunday night due to Phoenix's shootout win at Edmonton. Only seven points separate sixth place from 11th in the Western Conference, so the Sharks must continue to collect points over their remaining 11 games.
Team Scope:
Ducks: Anaheim basically can do no more than play the role of spoiler, as it enters Monday's action 12 points out of eighth place in the West with just nine games to go. The Ducks came up short against the Nashville Predators on Sunday night at the Honda Center, where they suffered a 3-1 loss.
Devante Smith-Pelly had Anaheim's lone tally on his first career shorthanded goal.
"If you look at the effort tonight – I think they played to win and they played hard," Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said. "I think there's an awful lot of pride and character in that room, so I don't think you're going to see (us give up)."
Sharks: San Jose earned a huge victory Saturday night, as Martin Havlat scored twice -- including the game-winner with 1:37 left in overtime -- to lift the Sharks to a 3-2 win against the Detroit Red Wings at HP Pavilion.
"It's been a while since I scored," said Havlat, whose last goal had been Dec. 17 before tearing his left hamstring later that game. "It was a playoff game for us. We're battling for a playoff spot right now. Every point we can get is very important."
Who's Hot: Ducks forward
Teemu Selanne, who leads Anaheim with 62 points, has 2 goals and 2 assists in his last four games. … Sharks captain Joe Thornton has 2 goals and 4 assists over his last four contests.
Injury Report: Sharks forward Tommy Wingels has missed three straight game with an undisclosed upper-body injury.