Anaheim @ San Jose preview
SAP Center at San Jose
Last Meeting ( Nov 14, 2019 ) San Jose 5, Anaheim 3
The San Jose Sharks and the visiting Anaheim Ducks hope to take the first step in potentially resetting their respective seasons on Monday when the Pacific Division rivals meet at SAP Center. The Sharks skidded into their league-mandated bye week and NHL All-Star break having dropped three in a row, getting outscored 14-4 in the process.
Tomas Hertl represented San Jose well in the NHL All-Star Game on Saturday, with his fifth goal of the tournament serving as the game-winner to lift Pacific Division team to glory. Unfortunately for Hertl and the Sharks, victories have been in short supply as the club finds itself in sixth place in the top-heavy division - just three points ahead of the Ducks. The 26-year-old was held in check in the first meeting with Anaheim before tallying twice in a 5-3 win at Honda Center on Nov. 14. The Ducks aren't living a Disney fairy tale as it relates to the standings, however they answered a dismal 1-6-1 stretch by defeating Nashville and Carolina on consecutive nights to enter the break with a bit of momentum.
TIME: 10:30 p.m. ET. TV: Prime Ticket, NBCS California
ABOUT THE DUCKS (19-24-5): Captain Ryan Getzlaf boosted his team-leading totals in assists (22) and points (33) by recording seven and eight, respectively, over his last seven games. Adam Henrique and Jakob Silfverberg, who share the club-best total in goals (15), each collected a goal and an assist in the two meetings with San Jose. Anaheim, however, continues to be done in by a lack of offense overall, as its 2.46 goals per game are the second-worst in the league (Detroit).
ABOUT THE SHARKS (21-25-4): Defenseman Erik Karlsson pulled even with captain Logan Couture in points (36) after notching his club-best 31st assist in San Jose's 4-1 setback at Vancouver on Jan. 18. Karlsson, who resides one point shy of 600 for his career, set up a pair of goals in two encounters with Anaheim this season. Evander Kane, who leads the team with 19 goals, collected a goal and an assist in the Sharks' win over the Ducks in November.
OVERTIME
1. Anaheim G John Gibson sports a 5-2-4 record with one shutout in 12 career appearances (11 starts) versus San Jose.
2. Sharks G Martin Jones has recorded 10 of his 13 wins this season at home.
3. Ducks F Rickard Rakell has scored eight of his 12 goals on the road.
PREDICTION: Sharks 3, Ducks 1