The Ducks enter play Friday night sitting fourth in the Pacific Division by point percentage (.573) and tied for third in points (23-16-9, 55 points). Each of Anaheim's next six games are against divisional opponents, including the first home matchups against the rival Sharks (Feb. 22) and Kings (Feb. 26) of the season.
Anaheim has not played since an overtime loss on Jan. 31 to Detroit, which capped a five-game road trip in which the Ducks earned eight of ten possible standings points (3-0-2).
After the long layoff, head coach Dallas Eakins said he wants to see his team physically engaged from the opening puck drop.
"Our level of battle, are we really committing to a full one-hundred percent battle on loose pucks," Eakins said. "The other thing I'm looking for right away is, how vocal are we? Are the guys up on the bench and are they talking? That usually shows we're focused and engaged."
Eakins said the tenacity and communication can help offset some inevitable rust as the players reacquiant themselves with game action.
"Even though we've had three days of practice with really good pace, the game is different," Eakins said. "With the execution there, that could be up in the air a little bit early, but we are hopeful it's excellent right off the bat."
The Ducks have points in six straight games (4-0-2), the club's third-such point streak of the season.
Anaheim earned wins in each of the first two meetings with its newest division rival, a 7-4 victory in the club's inaugural visit to Climate Pledge Arena and a 4-1 victory at Honda Center in December. All-Star winger Troy Terry leads the Ducks in scoring vs. Seattle, with four points (3-1=4) in those two games.
Terry, who made his first career All-Star appearance last week in Las Vegas, has already set career highs in scoring (25-16=41), goals, assists, power-play goals (seven) and game-winning goals. He is also the 14th player in Ducks history to score 25 goals in a season. On pace for 45, Terry could become the fourth Duck to hit the 40-goal milestone, potentially joining Teemu Selanne, Paul Kariya and Corey Perry.
Seattle visits Anaheim sitting eighth in the Pacific Division (15-28-4, 34 points). The Kraken returned from the All-Star break themselves on Wednesday, suffering a 5-2 loss to Arizona.
"They're a lunch pail, hard-working team," Eakins said. "They're going to give you one-hundred percent. They have to work hard to score goals. They have to do everything hard. The one thing we cannot be surprised by is their level of desperation and their level of work."
Former Penguin Jared McCann leads the club in points (19-11=30) and goals, making the most of his increased role after three seasons behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on the Pittsburgh depth chart. McCann has goals in three of his last five games (3-2=5) and scored twice in Seattle's first meeting with Anaheim.
The Kraken have especially struggled away from home ice this season, with a 6-13-2 record halfway through their road schedule.
