League Leading Ducks Hope to Extend Win Streak Tonight Against Capitals
Team Page: Anaheim :: Washington
65% of Bets Placed on Anaheim -153 | Matchup | Goalies
Anaheim’s Teemu Selanne is looking forward to spending some more time with his teammates, especially if they keep up their recent play.
The Ducks try to continue their success away from home as they begin their longest road trip to date with a game against the surging Washington Capitals on Friday.
Oddsmakers have made Anaheim -153 money line (NHL Odds) favorites for todays game, the over/under has been set at 6.5 total goals (View NHL Sports Books).
Anaheim (21-3-6) leads the league with 48 points and has won six of its last seven games. That strong play has translated on the road, where the Ducks are 8-1-2 and on the verge of a season-high four-game winning streak.
They start a five-game road trip Friday and play 10 of their next 12 away from home.
Selanne ensured Anaheim had some momentum heading into the trip, scoring twice and adding an assist to help the team beat Nashville 4-0 on Wednesday. His linemates also got in on the action as Chris Kunitz had a goal and three assists while Andy McDonald added two assists.
“We knew that this home stretch we had so far was going to be very, very important,” Selanne told the Ducks’ official Web site. “Now, it’s time to be road warriors. But I think that’s good for the team. I really believe it’s going to help this team even more to spend some time together. Let’s keep going.”
Selanne has been going strong this season and is among the league leaders with 37 points, including six in the last three games. He has a four-game point streak on the road with four goals and two assists in that span.
“If you get the puck to him, he’s usually in a good spot to have a good chance to score,” said Kunitz, whose 15 goals tie him with Selanne for the team lead.
Selanne also has done his share of scoring versus the Capitals (12-9-6), recording 16 goals and 15 assists in 20 career games against them. Those types of numbers have helped the Ducks go 7-2-1 in their last 10 games against Washington.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who recorded his fourth shutout of the season Wednesday, is 2-1-1 with two shutouts and a 1.48 goals-against average versus the Capitals – his lowest GAA against any opponent he’s faced more than once.
The Anaheim netminder, however, will face a hot Washington squad. The Capitals have rebounded from a six-game skid with four straight wins, outscoring opponents 22-11.
Washington jumped out to a two-goal lead Wednesday en route to a 6-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators. Captain Chris Clark scored twice on Wednesday while Alexander Ovechkin and Dainius Zubrus each had three assists.
“Getting the two goals and the win is a fantastic feeling. Coming off the injury, and then the losing streak, it was tough,” said Clark, who was hit in the mouth by a puck on Nov. 15. “Being able to contribute like this is a great feeling.”
The Capitals, who are concluding a four-game homestand, are trying to win five straight games for the first time since March 3-11, 2001.
Olaf Kolzig, who made 35 saves Wednesday, has backstopped Washington during its winning streak, but is 4-7 with a 2.74 GAA in 11 career starts against Anaheim.
The Capitals won the last meeting against the Ducks, 3-2 in overtime on Jan. 13, on Ovechkin’s only career hat trick. The Washington star leads his team with 17 goals and 31 points, and is coming off his first three-point game of the season.
by: Gary Roberts – theSpread.com – Email Us
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