The set-up: The Ducks (2-3-1) and Sharks (3-3-0) are treading water to begin the new season and meet Tuesday night at SAP Center in San Jose. It's San Jose's first home game since opening night (Oct. 12) when the Sharks beat the Kinds, 2-1. The Ducks continue playing away from home, as these two teams have combined to play 10 of their first 12 games on the road. Tuesday marks the first of three in a row at home for the Sharks, while the Ducks will return to Anaheim and play five of their next six at home after Tuesday.

Anaheim: The Ducks dropped the first four contests on a season-opening five-game road trip before posting back-to-back victories. The Ducks won 3-2 at Philly last Thursday and then won 4-2 versus Vancouver back in Anaheim on Sunday. Goalie
John Gibson has allowed two goals in each of his last three contests overall and turned aside all 23 shots he faced in a 1-0 victory over San Jose last season. The 23-year-old hasn't had much room for error with the Ducks' 2.3 goals per game ranking 26th in the league.

San Jose: Offseason acquisition Mikkel Boedker was elevated to the top line in Monday's practice to join veteran Joe Thornton and captain Joe Pavelski while Tomas Hertl was demoted to the second to play with wings Patrick Marleau and Matt Nieto. Boedker has added speed on the left wing for San Jose's top line. Defenseman Brent Burns has three goals and a league high-tying nine points on the heels of his career season in 2015-16 when he set personal bests in goals (27), assists (48) and points (75) last season.

The pick: The Ducks won three of the four meetings in 2015-16 but have to be road weary and both teams come in a pathetic 3-for-20 on the power play this season. Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer is prepared to shake things up on Tuesday when the Sharks open a three-game homestand against Pacific Division-rival Anaheim and I'm backing the home team in this one against the low-scoring Ducks. San Jose is an 8* play.