San Jose @ Anaheim preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 27, 2018 ) Anaheim 2, San Jose 4

The San Jose Sharks continue to watch their chances for a division title slip away as they've lost four straight contests following a month-opening six-game winning streak. San Jose attempts to halt the slide when they visit the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.

The Sharks were on their way to ending their skid Thursday as they carried a 2-1 lead into the third period before allowing three goals en route to a 4-2 setback in Los Angeles. Defenseman Brent Burns increased his team-leading point total to a career high-tying 76 with an assist for San Jose, which already had clinched a playoff spot but trails Calgary by five points for first place in the Pacific Division with eight games remaining. Anaheim split the first two contests of its three-game homestand, edging Florida 3-2 on Sunday before being blanked 3-0 by Winnipeg three nights later. Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf was stifled by the Jets after registering five points in his previous two contests.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, NHL Network, Sportsnet; NBCS California (San Jose) FS West (Anaheim)

ABOUT THE SHARKS (43-23-8): Burns has matched the career high in points he set in 2016-17, when he went on to win the Norris Trophy. The 34-year-old leads all NHL defensemen and ranks fourth overall in the league with 63 assists. Captain Joe Pavelski tops the team in goals with 37 and is four away from tying the career high he recorded in 2013-14.

ABOUT THE DUCKS (30-36-9): Jakob Silfverberg leads the team with 22 goals - one shy of the career high he set in 2016-17 - and had been scoring at a rapid pace before the loss to Winnipeg. The 28-year-old Swede tallied in six of his previous nine contests after going five games without a goal. Rickard Rakell, who recorded a career-best 34 goals last season, has scored only 11 in 62 games this campaign and enters Friday with a six-game drought.

OVERTIME

1. Sharks D Brenden Dillon is two points away from 100 for his career.

2. Anaheim D Jacob Larsson (thigh) missed Wednesday's game and is day-to-day.

3. San Jose D Justin Braun's next appearance will be his 600th in the NHL.

PREDICTION: Ducks 3, Sharks 2