Cogliano-Pavelski 12-9

SHARKS (15-10-1) at DUCKS (13-9-5)
10 p.m. ET; SN, PRIME, CSN-CA, NHL.TV

Sharks team scope

The San Jose Sharks have been struggling to score goals this season. Although they come into their game Friday at the Anaheim Ducks having won six of their past eight games, they rank 27th in the NHL with 62 goals and 24th in goals per game with 2.38. Defenseman Brent Burns leads San Jose with 11 goals, center Logan Couture has 10 and center Joe Pavelski has eight, but several Sharks have had difficulty offensively, including center Joe Thornton, who has not scored against a goaltender this season; he has two empty-net goals in 26 games. "We're not scoring but we're creating chances," coach Peter DeBoer said. "We're finding ways to win. We're creating enough chances and goals are going to be there." The Sharks are looking forward to facing the Ducks in the third game this season between the Pacific Division rivals. The season series is tied 1-1. "I think we like playing each other," Sharks forward Tommy Wingels said. "For whatever reason, I think you play certain teams that bring the best out of you. I think for both of these teams, that's a physical presence out on the ice. We play a more physical brand against these guys, and it seems like they play more feisty and physical against us."

Ducks team scope

Forward Rickard Rakell is expected to rejoin the Ducks lineup after missing the past two games with a lower-body injury. Rakell had been hot prior to being injured, with 14 points (10 goals, four assists) in 16 games since returning from an offseason abdominal surgery. "It's been tough. I think I've missed enough games already," Rakell said. "I'm still feeling like I'm in good shape and I didn't miss too much time. I'm not going to try and complicate things out there and just play like I have been." Rakell said the effects of the injury are still lingering, but it's nothing he can't play through. "I'm feeling pretty good right now so I'm going to try not to think about it too much," he said. "I'm going to play through. It's nothing that I think about when I'm skating out there." The Ducks are 4-1-1 in their past six games, but have given up 13 goals in their past two. Goaltender Jonathan Bernier is expected to start; he allowed eight goals at the Calgary Flames on Sunday.

Sharks projected lineup

Patrick Marleau -- Joe Thornton -- Joe Pavelski
Melker Karlsson -- Logan Couture -- Joel Ward
Mikkel Boedker -- Chris Tierney -- Joonas Donskoi
Kevin Labanc -- Tommy Wingels -- Micheal Haley
Paul Martin -- Brent Burns
Marc-Edouard Vlasic -- Justin Braun
Brenden Dillon -- Dylan DeMelo
Martin Jones
Aaron Dell
Scratched:Mirco Mueller, Matt Nieto
Injured:David Schlemko (leg), Tomas Hertl (knee)

Ducks projected lineup
Status report

The Ducks held an optional morning skate and did not take line rushes. … DeBoer said he had not decided on a lineup as of the morning skate but acknowledged defenseman Mirco Mueller had flown into Orange County from San Jose on Friday morning. Mueller was called up from San Jose of the American Hockey on Wednesday and sent back down on Thursday.

Who's hot

Pavelski has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in the past 10 games, with points in nine of them … Couture has six points (four goals, two assists) in the past five games. … Burns has nine points (five goals, four assists) in the past eight games. … Kesler has five points (four goals, one assist) in a three-game point streak. … Perry has four points (one goal, three assists) in a three-game point streak.