In the end, the Ducks will hope the loss on Friday will merely be a blemish in an otherwise sparkling stretch of games. They enter tonight's game with wins in five of their their last six (5-1-0) and seven of their last nine (7-2-0). Furthermore, the Ducks have points in nine of the last 11 overall (7-2-2) and a 4-1-2 mark in their last seven games on home ice. Currently in third place in the Pacific Division with 35 points, the Ducks are tied in points (and games played, 31) with the second-place San Jose Sharks and five points behind the division-leading Calgary Flames, who have a game in hand.
"Any time you have a lapse, it's going to be frustrating," defenseman Josh Manson said after the game on Friday. "You have to learn from it. We'll have a good practice and be ready for [tonight]."
The Ducks have fared well against the Devils at Honda Center as of late, winners of the last four meetings dating to Jan. 16, 2015 - a franchise best. Overall, Anaheim has gone 15-15-4 against New Jersey, including a 10-6-2 mark at home. The Ducks also have points in eight of their last nine home games vs. the Devils dating to Nov. 26, 2003 (6-1-1). Ryan Kesler leads active Ducks in scoring against New Jersey with 13 points (7g/6a) in 16 career games. Active point streaks against the Devils include Ryan Getzlaf, who has a three-game point streak and two-game goal streak (2g/2a), Jakob Silfverberg, who has goals in three straight games (3g/1a) and eight points (6g/2a) in his last five, and Josh Manson, who has assists/points in three straight (four points, all assists).
It's been a tough season for the Devils, who enter tonight's game in last place in the Eastern Conference with 25 points. But they hope their most recent game was a step in the right direction. Led by Kyle Palmieri's fourth multi-goal performance of the season, the Devils snapped a six-game losing streak (0-3-3) with a 6-3 victory over the LA Kings at Staples Center on Thursday. Travis Zajac, Will Butcher, Nico Hischier and Blake Coleman also scored for the Devils, who improved their record to 10-12-5 this season. The Devils have gone 2-4-4 in their last 10 and have a 3-10-1 mark on the road. Palmieri leads the Devils with 14 goals, while Taylor Hall paces them in assists (22) and points (30).
