Mighty Ducks
Already thriving behind a resurgent offense, the Anaheim Ducks now face a team that’s had trouble keeping opponents off the scoresheet.
The Ducks, seeking their ninth victory in 10 games, host the struggling Dallas Stars on Friday in the first of seven matchups between the Pacific Division rivals this season.
Oddsmakers from SBG Global have made Anaheim -175 money line favorites (NHL Odds) for today’s game, the over/under has been set at 5.5 goals (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 74% of bets for this game have been placed on Anaheim -175 (View NHL Bet Percentages).
Anaheim (9-5-1) struggled to find the back of the net early in 2008-09, managing 13 goals while losing five of its first six games.
The offense has picked things up since then with 36 goals during an 8-0-1 stretch, including a 5-2 victory over St. Louis on Wednesday.
Ryan Getzlaf had two goals and an assist, Corey Perry scored a goal and set up another, and Chris Kunitz provided two assists as the Ducks opened a season-high six-game homestand.
"It’s all work," said Kunitz, who has 10 points over his last nine games. "When you do it correctly and do the right things, like going to the net and getting the puck in the corner and digging around, it starts clicking. That’s the key, doing your small jobs."
Getzlaf led the Ducks with a career-high 82 points in 2007-08, and is among the NHL leaders with 18 this season. He was limited to an assist through the first six contests, but has six goals and 11 assists during an eight-game point streak.
"It’s a matter of things clicking right now, and we have to continue playing the way we are," Getzlaf said Wednesday after Anaheim’s third straight victory.
Getzlaf has two goals and seven assists in a six-game point streak versus Dallas (4-6-2).
Anaheim, though, was held to 14 goals in last season’s series with the Stars while losing five of the eight matchups.
Things could be different in the teams’ first meeting of 2008-09, however, considering Dallas has surrendered a Western Conference-worst 50 goals. It has lost three of its last four games, conceding 16 goals.
This game marks the middle of the Stars’ season-high five-game road trip after they were blown out in the first two contests, 5-2 at Chicago on Friday and 5-1 in Boston on Saturday. Dallas is 2-5-0 overall away from home.
"Everybody is frustrated with losing, but I’ve always been a person that, you look at a situation and you find solutions," coach Dave Tippett told the Stars’ official Web site. "You’re trying to improve, you’re trying to do whatever it takes to give your team the best chance to win, and that’s what we’re trying to do."
Marty Turco is last in the league in goals-against average (4.34) and save percentage (.837), but aims to help Dallas avoid a three-game slide. He went 4-2-1 with a 1.85 GAA and a shutout in seven games versus the Ducks last season.
He stopped just 20 of 25 shots on Saturday as he returned to the net after being benched for two games in favor of rookie Tobias Stephen.
Turco hopes to contain Ducks veteran Teemu Selanne, who has 33 goals and 64 points in 73 career games versus Dallas. Selanne also has eight goals and five assists during a personal eight-game point streak.
Jonas Hiller made 30 saves on Wednesday, but Jean-Sebastien Giguere figures to be back in net for Anaheim on Friday.
Giguere is 6-0-0 with a 2.69 GAA and a shutout over his last seven games. He’s won his last two starts versus the Stars after losing seven of nine against them.
Bet NHL Hockey
Did you like this article? Subscribe to our Hockey news feed for the fastest updates delivered right to you – Click here to Subscribe
