The Ducks (42-25-13, 97 points) can finish anywhere from second place in the Pacific Division to the first wild card, with first-round matchups against one of Vegas, San Jose or LA. If they win their next two games, including tonight's matchup with the Dallas Stars (41-31-8, 90 points) and the season finale tomorrow in Arizona, and San Jose loses tomorrow against Minnesota, the Ducks can jump into second place and open the first round at home. Otherwise, they could finish in third place (currently held by LA) or the first wild card.
Anaheim closes out its 2017-18 regular-season home slate riding a six-game winning streak at Honda Center and posting 13 wins in its last 16 at home since January 23. The Ducks have lost just once in regulation at home over that span (13-1-2), leading the Western Conference and placing second in the NHL (Toronto, .882). Anaheim has also gone 8-1-1 in its last 10 overall, 15-5-2 in its last 22 and 23-10-4 since its bye week.
This marks the series finale between the Ducks and Stars, which has seen the Ducks go 1-1-0 in the first two. Anaheim opened the season series with a 2-0 victory at Honda Center on February 21 and Dallas skated to a 2-1 victory 15 days later at American Airlines Center. The Ducks are 45-65-11 in the all-time series, including a 29-27-4 record in Anaheim. Ryan Getzlaf paces active Ducks in career scoring vs. Dallas with 48 points (12g/36a) in 58 games.
Ryan Miller, who stopped 26-of-27 shots in Anaheim's 3-1 victory over Minnesota on Wednesday, is one win shy of matching Tom Barrasso (369) for second on the all-time wins list among U.S.-born goaltenders.
It is still hard to believe the Stars will miss the playoffs for the second straight season and eighth time in the past 10 years considering they were 33-19-4 as recently as February 11. But an eight-game losing streak from March 11-25 proved to be too much to overcome in the tightly contested Western Conference playoff race. Despite the disappointment, the Stars have won two in a row and three of their last four coming into tonight's game.
Journeyman goaltender Mike McKenna, who will turn 35 next week, will get the start tonight, according to the Stars. McKenna made 17 saves in a relief appearance in Dallas' 4-2 victory in San Jose on Tuesday. Tonight will mark his 24th career NHL appearance. The Stars will close out their season tomorrow in LA.
