Ducks at Sharks preview
Anaheim seeks third straight win; Dell gets another start for San Jose
by Ross McKeon / NHL.com Independent Correspondent
DUCKS (19-24-5) at SHARKS (21-25-4)
10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, PRIME, NHL.TV
The Game
The Anaheim Ducks look for their first three-game winning streak since starting the season 3-0-0 when they play the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on Monday.
The Ducks defeated the Nashville Predators (4-2) on Jan. 16 and the Carolina Hurricanes (2-1 in overtime) on Jan 17. Anaheim last won three in a row from Oct. 3-8, which included a 3-1 victory against San Jose.
The Sharks, who begin a three-game homestand, haven't played since Jan. 18. They have lost three straight games in which they've been outscored 14-4.
Players to watch
Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf has three assists in his past two games.
Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson has eight points (one goal, seven assists) in his past eight games and is one point from 600 in the NHL.
They said it
"They're still a dangerous team. I know they're not where they want to be in the standings, but by no means does that mean we're going to take them lightly. … Especially off the break, we need to make sure we're ready at the drop of the puck and be ready to compete." -- Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler
"These games are crucial for our team right now, and our organization. It's a good time of the year, if you're going to show your game, it's in the second half of the year when the season's amped up a little bit. We need the guys to seize these opportunities." -- Sharks coach Bob Boughner
Ducks projected lineup
Rickard Rakell -- Ryan Getzlaf -- Troy Terry
Nick Ritchie -- Adam Henrique -- Devin Shore
Max Jones -- Sam Steel -- Ondrej Kase
Nicolas Deslauriers -- Derek Grant -- Carter Rowney
Cam Fowler -- Josh Manson
Hampus Lindholm -- Erik Gudbranson
Jacob Larsson -- Korbinian Holzer
John Gibson
Ryan Miller
Scratched: Jakob Silfverberg, Michael Del Zotto, Chase De Leo
Injured: None
Sharks projected lineup
Evander Kane -- Tomas Hertl - Timo Meier
Barclay Goodrow -- Joe Thornton -- Kevin Labanc
Marcus Sorensen -- Dylan Gambrell -- Patrick Marleau
Melker Karlsson -- Joel Kellman -- Stefan Noesen
Marc-Edouard Vlasic -- Erik Karlsson
Brenden Dillon -- Brent Burns
Radim Simek -- Mario Ferraro
Aaron Dell
Martin Jones
Scratched: Antti Suomela, Tim Heed
Injured: Logan Couture (fractured ankle), Dalton Prout (upper body)
Status report
Ritchie returns after missing 19 games because of a sprained MCL. Anaheim recalled forwards Jones, Terry, and De Leo from San Diego of the American Hockey League on Monday. Terry will play for the first time since Dec. 17. … Silfverberg will not play to be with his wife for the birth of their child. … Dell will start for the sixth time in seven games, but Jones will play against the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday.
Stat pack
Fowler needs three points for 300 in the NHL. … Marleau is one point from of 1,100 with the Sharks.