The set-up: The Anaheim Ducks are 8-3-1 in their last 12 contests, after taking the first two of a five-game homestand, including Friday's 2-1 triumph against local rival, the Los Angeles Kings. The Ducks are now 22-16-9 and with 53 points, are making a push for a playoff position (five teams are in a crowded field between 50 and 58 points). They hope to knock off one of their chief competitors tonight, when they host the 25-14-6 San Jose Sharks (56 points) in a key Pacific Division battle (Sharks are 2nd in the division, guaranteeing them one of the three playoff spots). The Ducks are 8-4-5 against division rivals in 2017-18 and have split a pair of shootout decisions against the Sharks but San Jose is even better against fellow Pacific teams, going 11-2-3.

San Jose: Reigning Norris Trophy winner Brent Burns continued to improve his season totals with a pair of assists in Saturday]s 2-1 win over Pittsburgh, giving him 12 of his team-leading 37 points in the last nine games. Veteran Joe Thornton had his four-game goal-scoring streak snapped against Pittsburgh but is second on the team with 33 points - one more than both Logan Couture and captain Joe Pavelski, who set up two tallies on Saturday. Tomas Hertl delivered his 13th goal in the latest victory, giving him at least a point in three straight contests. Backup Aaron Dell (11-3-2) may make his second straight start for the Sharks on Sunday with Martin Jones considered day-to-day due to what the club is calling a "minor lower-body injury." Hard to think that's a negative though, as Dell owns a better GAA (2.18 to 2.68) and SP (.928 to .910) than Jones on the season.

Anaheim: Ondrej Kase recorded an assist in Friday's 2-1 victory for his sixth point in his last four contests, pushing his season total to 21. All-Star Rickard Rakell leads the team in goals (16) and points (33) while captain Ryan Getzlaf has collected 22 assists in just 23 games during a season interrupted by injuries. John Gibson (16-13-5, 2.59 GAA & .923 SP) has won each of his last three starts, allowing six goals on 82 shots, and is 2-0-2 lifetime against the Sharks. The Ducks are three spots, but only two points, out of the second wild card spot coming into Sunday's game. After scoring Friday's game-winner, Ryan Kesler noted, "In the position we're in, we're on the outside looking in right now. We're in a mode that every game counts, and these divisional games, they're obviously extra-special."

The pick: It was Kesler's third goal in his 10th game of the campaign, following off-season hip surgery. His return is big. The Ducks have taken three of four points from the Sharks this season, which could be key to their playoff aspirations. In fact, the Ducks have earned at least one point in 10 consecutive games against the Sharks (7-0-3). Make Anaheim an 8* play.