PREMIUM
Rogers' ICE BREAKER >> 22-12 Overall L9 Days!
(NHL) Anaheim vs. Arizona,
Money Line: -163.00 Anaheim (Away)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -163.00 Anaheim (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The Anaheim Ducks shut out Dallas 2-0 on Wednesday, giving the team a season-high fourth straight victory. The win moved the 31-20-11 Ducks into third place in the Pacific Division, as they get set to visit the improving Arizona Coyotes on Saturday. Yes, Arizona owns the NHL's worst record at 17-33-10 but the Coyotes had been riding a season-high four-game winning streak and were 5-0-1 in their previous six games before Calgary handed the team a 5-2 loss on Thursday.
Anaheim: Backup goaltender Ryan Miller ahas been one of the keys during the Ducks' recent surge. Miller (8-4-5, 2.46 GAA & .925 SP) relieved Gibson for the third period of Monday's 2-0 victory at Vegas on Monday, stopping 20 shots, as Anaheim hasn't allowed a goal in 121 minutes, 51 seconds. Miller stopped 41 shots during his 42nd NHL shutout in the Ducks' 2-0 win over the Stars on Wednesday. Rickard Rakell (team highs of 22 goals, 48 points) has been kept off the scoresheet in three of his last four games but recorded three goals and two assists versus the Coyotes this season. Ryan Getzlaf (38 points in 38 games) scored his first goal in eight games Wednesday and has three points in his last two contests.
Arizona: Rookie Clayton Keller (team highs of 17 goals, 44 points) has been kept off the scoresheet over the last two games, after recording three goals and five assists in his previous five contests. Derek Stepan (38 points), who shares the team lead in assists (27) with Keller, has two goals and six assists in his last eight games. Kevin Connauton scored Thursday, giving him five goals in 10 February games, while fellow defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (NHL-worst minus-37) has five assists in his last three contests.
The pick: The Ducks won the first two of four meetings this season, 5-4 in the season opener for both teams on Oct. 5 and 5-2 on Dec. 31 (both games were played in Anaheim). That gives Anaheim seven wins in its last eight meetings with Arizona. Considering Arizona is just 3-9-5 versus Pacific foes, I don't see much changing from the results of the first two meetings between these teams. Make Anaheim an 8* play.
Anaheim: Backup goaltender Ryan Miller ahas been one of the keys during the Ducks' recent surge. Miller (8-4-5, 2.46 GAA & .925 SP) relieved Gibson for the third period of Monday's 2-0 victory at Vegas on Monday, stopping 20 shots, as Anaheim hasn't allowed a goal in 121 minutes, 51 seconds. Miller stopped 41 shots during his 42nd NHL shutout in the Ducks' 2-0 win over the Stars on Wednesday. Rickard Rakell (team highs of 22 goals, 48 points) has been kept off the scoresheet in three of his last four games but recorded three goals and two assists versus the Coyotes this season. Ryan Getzlaf (38 points in 38 games) scored his first goal in eight games Wednesday and has three points in his last two contests.
Arizona: Rookie Clayton Keller (team highs of 17 goals, 44 points) has been kept off the scoresheet over the last two games, after recording three goals and five assists in his previous five contests. Derek Stepan (38 points), who shares the team lead in assists (27) with Keller, has two goals and six assists in his last eight games. Kevin Connauton scored Thursday, giving him five goals in 10 February games, while fellow defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (NHL-worst minus-37) has five assists in his last three contests.
The pick: The Ducks won the first two of four meetings this season, 5-4 in the season opener for both teams on Oct. 5 and 5-2 on Dec. 31 (both games were played in Anaheim). That gives Anaheim seven wins in its last eight meetings with Arizona. Considering Arizona is just 3-9-5 versus Pacific foes, I don't see much changing from the results of the first two meetings between these teams. Make Anaheim an 8* play.
