The Sharks have won two of three against the Ducks this season. Each team had shootout victories against each other in November before San Jose won 6-2 in Anaheim on Jan. 21. The Sharks are second in the Pacific Division, one point in front of the Los Angeles Kings, and two ahead of the Ducks and Calgary Flames. Anaheim has won two in a row and seven of its past eight at home.
Players to watch
Sharks forward Joe Pavelski has six points (four goals, two assists) in his past two games, but does not have a point in his past four games against Anaheim. Ducks forward Corey Perry has seven points (three goals, four assists) in a four-game point streak. Perry has three points (goal, two assists) in three games against the Sharks this season.
They said it
"The one thing about this group is they don't get down on themselves and there's a lot of perseverance there." -- Sharks coach Pete DeBoer "The big thing is sticking to our game plan. If you're playing the right way and sticking to our structure, goals will come." -- Ducks defenseman Josh Manson
The Sharks recalled Heed and Balcers from San Jose of the American Hockey League on Sunday. Heed has 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 27 games with the Sharks this season. Balcers has not appeared in an NHL game.
Stat pack
Ryan became the first Sharks rookie defenseman to score twice in the same game during a 6-4 win against the Oilers on Saturday since Jason Demers against the Minnesota Wild on Jan. 30, 2010. … Rakell has nine points (four goals, five assists) in his past six games.
