The set-up: The 44-25-13 Anaheim Ducks' 101 points were good enough for a second-place finish in the Pacific Division. Meanwhile, the 45-27-10 San Jose Sharks ended the regular season with 100 points to finish third in the Pacific. That sets up a first round showdown between the two division rivals, who will be meeting in the postseason for only the second time ever. The teams square off tonight at Hond Center, coming into the contest heading in opposite directions as the regular season came to a close. While teh Ducks earned points in 11 of their final 12 games (10-1-1), the Sharks floundered down the stretch, losing five of their final six contests (1-4-1). The Sharks won three of the four regular-season meetings, including both games in Anaheim, but the Ducks upset San Jose in the lone playoff meeting, winning their 2009 first-round series in six games.

San Jose: Evander Kane proved to be a nice addition for San Jose as he recorded nine goals and five assists in 17 games after being acquired from Buffalo. Kane finished one goal shy of the career high of 30 he set in 2011-12 while with Winnipeg and returned to the lineup for the regular-season finale, after missing two games with an undisclosed injury. Defenseman Brent Burns finished with a team-high 67 points (including 55 assists), after notching two goals and 10 assists over his final 10 contests. That left him one point ahead of team captain Joe Pavelski's 66 points. Logan Couture led the team with 34 goals. San Jose's No. 1 goalie is Martin Jones and he reached 30 wins for the third time in as many seasons with the club, despite a career-worst 2.55 GAA. Aaron Dell, who won 15 games in his second season, has never played a minute in the postseason.

Anaheim: The Ducks expect to have John Gibson in the crease for the opener, as the goaltender began practicing Monday after missing the final three games of the regular season with an upper-body injury. He was playing well before suffering his injury April 1 against Colorado, going 14-4-2 with a 1.95 goals-against average after the All-Star break. However, considering his numbers at home this season, Ryan Miller would be a more than acceptable option to start the opener as the veteran backup went 7-0-2 with a 1.97 GAA in 10 games at Honda Center. Rickard Rakell led the team in the regular season with career highs of 34 goals and 69 points, while captain Ryan Getzlaf tied a career low with 11 goals, but also put up 50 assists. He appeared in only 56 games, as he missed 19 between late October and mid-December after facial surgery.

The pick: The Ducks are clearly playing better hockey right now and regardless of which goalie gets the nod (Gison or Miller), Anaheim is 26-10-5 at home this season. San Jose limps into the postseason and has been outscored 2.93-to-2.73 GPG on the road, despite its 20-14-7 away record. Make Anaheim an 8* play.