Ducks Look to Rebound Against Visiting Flyers
FLYERS (26-22-6) at DUCKS (39-11-5)
TV: CSN-PH, PRIME
Last 10: Philadelphia 3-5-2; Anaheim 7-3-0
Season series: Anaheim and Philadelphia conclude a two-game season series Thursday at Honda Center. The Ducks earned a 3-2 win in the series opener on Oct. 29 at Wells Fargo Center. Anaheim rallied from a 2-0 deficit for the win, led by Kyle Palmieri's game-high two goals and Andrew Cogliano's goal for his 200th NHL point. Thursday marks the Flyers' first appearance in Anaheim since Dec. 2, 2011, when Bruce Boudreau made his Anaheim head coaching debut. The Ducks are 10-8-7 all-time vs. the Flyers, including a 5-4-4 mark at Honda Center.
Big story: The NHL-leading Anaheim Ducks continue a season-tying five-game homestand vs. the Philadelphia Flyers Thursday at Honda Center (7 p.m., PRIME TICKET/AM 830). The Ducks have gone 21-4-0 in their last 25 games, including an 11-2-0 mark at Honda Center and 10-2-0 road record. Anaheim has 11 comeback wins in the last 25 games, four of those from two-goal deficits. The Ducks are 15-1-2 vs. the Pacific Division and a league-best 23-6-2 (.774 points %) vs. the Western Conference. At 39-11-5 for 83 points, Anaheim is riding its best start to a season through 55 games, improving upon the previous mark of 33-14-8 for 74 points in 2006-07. The Ducks have also scored the most goals (182, second in NHL this season) and allowed the fewest (130) through 55 games in club history. In January, Anaheim ranks second among NHL teams in power-play % (28.6) and has killed 44-of-50 power play opportunities (88.0) for the NHL's third-best mark this month. Saku Koivu is one game shy of 1,110 career NHL appearances, having played 307 of those 1,099 in an Anaheim uniform. Following tonight’s contest, the Ducks will continue their homestand with games vs. Dallas (Feb. 1), Columbus (Feb. 3) and Chicago (Feb. 5).
Team scope:
Ducks: Despite sitting atop the league standings, the Ducks know they have to be better to continue their torrid pace. Last night's game was a stark reminder of that.
"I don't know if it was an emotional letdown but it was certainly a letdown in our play," defenseman Ben Lovejoy said. "We didn't play well. We were far too loose with the puck. We didn't bring it."
"We were sloppy," captain Ryan Getzlaf said. "In our zone we stood around and watched a lot. When teams get cycling we tend to collapse a little bit instead of pressuring. We didn't have our legs [Tuesday] and that's what changes that [defensive] zone."
The way good teams stay good is by catching little things before they become big things, something Getzlaf is aware of.
"We've won a lot of hockey games in the first half of the year," he said. "We've made it a habit of not losing two in a row so we have to focus on Wednesday."
Flyers: There was only one negative in the Flyers' 5-0 defeat of the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, and that came when defenseman Kimmo Timonen left the game in the second period after blocking a shot.
Timonen also sat out the team's practice Wednesday, but coach Craig Berube said Timonen would be available Thursday against the Ducks.
"He's fine," Berube told reporters. "I knew he was fine [Wednesday]. Just making sure. Just a maintenance day for him."
The 38-year-old defenseman has two goals and 17 assists in 54 games and is third on the team with an average ice time of 20:49 per game.
Who's hot: Flyers forward Scott Hartnell had two goals and an assist Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings, giving him four goals and six assists in his past nine games. … Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf has five goals, nine assists and a plus-7 rating in 12 January games.
Injury report: Ducks goaltender Viktor Fasth (lower body) has been skating on his own. ... Flyers forward Zac Rinaldo (ankle) is probable.
