• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Predators host Ducks in key Western Conference showdown

Feb 3, 2007 - 6:21 PM Anaheim (32-12-8) at Nashville (36-14-3) 8:00 pm EST

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- With the NHL's best home record, the Nashville Predators have risen to the top of the league standings.

Nashville can tie the franchise record with its seventh consecutive home victory and maintain the league's top mark Saturday when it hosts the Anaheim Ducks in a matchup of two first-place teams.

The Predators are 18-3-3 at home this season and 50-11-4 here since the start of the 2005-2006 campaign. They have outscored their visitors, 25-12, during their recent home streak, which is one win shy of the mark set from February 13-March 1.

Nashville has a one-point edge over the Buffalo Sabres in the race for the Presidents' Trophy and has a three-point lead over Anaheim for the top spot in the Western Conference.

After winning five in a row, the Predators have dropped their last two contests, including Thursday's 3-2 defeat to the Phoenix Coyotes. Steve Sullivan had a goal and an assist and Jason Arnott added his 19th tally for Nashville.

Although they have led the Pacific Division for much of the season, the Ducks had their momentum slowed with nine losses in an 11-game stretch from December 29-January 19.

Since the All-Star break, Anaheim has won back-to-back contests, highlighted by Wednesday's 2-1 triumph over the Coyotes. Travis Moen and Andy McDonald netted third-period goals and Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 24 saves for his ninth victory in 11 starts.

Nashville rebounded from being shutout by Anaheim on December 6 with a 5-4 overtime triumph in their last meeting January 9. Sullivan netted the clincher in the extra session for the Predators.