The Canucks have two wins in their past 10 games (2-6-2) after going 4-1-1 in the previous six games. Vancouver is six points behind the Minnesota for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference, three points ahead of the Ducks. Anaheim center Ryan Getzlaf is expected to miss his third straight game with an upper-body injury. Anaheim has lost back-to-back games after winning three of the previous four. The Ducks are 3-10-0 in the past 13.
Players to watch
Ducks goalie Kevin Boyle , who is expected to start, is 1-2-0 with a 1.66 goals-against average, .945 save percentage, and one shutout in his first four NHL appearances, including a 35-save shutout of the Canucks in his first NHL start on Feb. 13. Canucks forward Elias Pettersson has 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 13 games since returning from a knee injury. However, he hasn't scored a goal in three games and has one in his past seven.
They said it
"Very happy that I have been given this opportunity. I am very excited to get the game going, it's going to be a lot of adrenaline. It was a pretty long trip, flew out of Toronto at 7:15 a.m. and got here and right to the morning skate." -- Ducks defenseman Brendan Guhle, who will make his debut one day after being acquired from the Buffalo Sabres "Of course, we know where we are and that we are hunting for a playoff spot, of course we know every game matters and of course we must win to make the playoffs but I don't feel stressed or anything. If you feel stressed I am not playing my hockey." -- Canucks rookie center Elias Pettersson
Guhle fills the spot left by Michael Del Zotto, who was traded to the St. Louis Blues after the morning skate. Redmond was called up from san Diego of the American Hockey League on Sunday because of Miller's injury. … Schenn makes his Canucks debut in place of Erik Gudbranson, who was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins after the morning skate. With Demko ready to back up Markstrom after missing three weeks with a knee injury, goalie Marek Mazanec was sent to Utica of the AHL. Forward Zack MacEwen was also sent to the AHL; he had one assist in his first four NHL games.
Stat pack
Anaheim has allowed two goals or fewer in five of its past six games. Henrique has four points (two goals, two assists) in his past four games. … Gaudette has three points (two goals, one assist) in his past four games. Boeser has three points (two goals, one assist) in his past four games.
