Ducks Battle Kraken in Pre-Christmas Division Clash

The Ducks (21-13-2) look to go into the holidays on a high note as they face the Kraken (13-14-6) at home.

Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. PT and will air on Victory+ and KCOP-13. The Ducks will give away a special Nutquacker bobblehead to the first 10,000 fans in attendance.

Anaheim got back to its winning ways on Saturday with a 4-3 victory over the Blue Jackets. With the win, the Ducks regained the lead atop the Pacific Division.

"It was a great response," head coach Joel Quenneville said after bouncing back from Friday’s loss. "The start was the response we were hoping, and it put us in a really good spot. ... It was an important win in a lot of ways. We were asking for a response, and we got it."

Pavol Mintyukov had the go-ahead goal in the third period making it a league-leading fourth time this season the Ducks have scored a go-ahead goal in the final five minutes of regulation.

"That's what we needed. Just a strong game," Mintyukov said. "After that loss, that's what we needed. Everything (went better). (Against the Stars), we were not ready. Today we were more prepared."

The Kraken are currently last in the Pacific Division and have won two of their last six games, their most recent win coming on Saturday to the Sharks.

Chandler Stephenson leads the team in points (21) with 9 goals and 12 assists while Jordan Eberle is right behind him with 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists).

These two teams last met in the Ducks’ season opener in October with the Kraken winning 3-1.

With so much time between the two meetings, Quenneville discussed what he can take from that game going into tonight.

“We certainly liked the first start of that game,” Quenneville said. “I thought the last half, we lost what we started with. I think they check well and that’s the kind of game they’re looking to play here tonight. But after that, we got going and had some success finishing.”

Additionally, he said he’s happy with his team’s offensive production but said it’s key to “be respectful” for the Kraken’s offense as defensively, his group will need to match their patience.

Troy Terry also shared his thoughts about the Kraken and said he and his teammates can’t take the group lightly regardless of their record.

“I know they’re a good team,” Terry said. “They’ve got some really good forwards. They got a good D-corps and they play hard. So it’s a team that if we don’t show up with a workman’s like mentality, they can kind of run you out of the building.”

Quenneville announced earlier today that the Ducks will be without Leo Carlsson tonight as he is day-to-day with a lower body injury.

The head coach expects Carlsson to return after the holiday break and also said Dostal will start tonight for Anaheim.