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Ducks aim to bounce back vs. Sharks

Apr 6, 2011 - 3:13 PM (Sports Network) - Back-to-back losses for the first time in over a month delayed the Anaheim Ducks from punching their ticket to the postseason. They'll try to rebound against the Pacific Division-champion San Jose Sharks tonight at the Honda Center.

The Ducks are 12-5 since a five-game skid from Feb. 16-25, but have lost consecutive contests to the Sharks and Stars since winning seven of eight.

Anaheim could have clinched a playoff spot with a win over Dallas on Sunday, but dropped a 4-3 decision and now sit tied with Chicago for seventh in the Western Conference with 93 points and three games to play. The Ducks are two points up on the 10th-place Stars and Flames, and idle Dallas also has three games to play while Calgary has two and will host Edmonton this evening.

Corey Perry continued his blistering surge with a goal and an assist in Sunday's loss, one that saw Anaheim have a pair of late third-period tallies waived off because of contact with a goaltender and later a hand pass.

Perry hasn't had any issues with lighting the lamp as he has 16 goals and 25 points over his last 13 games. The forward leads the NHL with 47 goals and is third with 93 points, both career highs.

Ryan Getzlaf and Lubomir Visnovsky also scored in Sunday's loss and Ray Emery took his second straight setback after winning his first six in a Ducks uniform despite 27 saves.

"I don't think we're happy with the way we played overall. The focus wasn't there," Ducks forward Saku Koivu said.

Emery's first loss came at San Jose on Saturday, a 4-2 setback that was Anaheim's third in five meetings this year with the Sharks as well as ninth in the past 12 meetings overall.

San Jose, which has won five of its last seven trips to the Honda Center, bested Anaheim as part of its current four-game winning streak in which it has outscored its opponents, 20-4. The Sharks have also won eight of their last nine and wrapped up their fourth straight division title with Monday's 6-1 pounding of the Kings.

Kyle Wellwood had a goal and two assists, Joe Thornton notched a goal and a helper to reach 999 career points and Antti Niemi made 31 saves.

"The benefit of winning is knowing we will be in the No. 2 or 3 spot," said San Jose head coach Todd McLellan. "As the playoffs roll around we will have the opportunity to start in front of our great fans."

San Jose did move one point past Detroit for second place in the West with 103 points. Both teams have three games left and the Red Wings are visiting Carolina today as well.

Forward Ryan Clowe suffered a lower-body injury in Monday's win and is questionable for tonight.

The Sharks wrap their regular season with a home-and-home set starting Friday at Phoenix, while the Ducks play their final two games versus the Kings. They host Los Angeles on Friday.

Niemi is likely to get the start tonight and is 3-2-0 with a 2.01 goals- against average in his career versus the Ducks.

While Thornton is close to becoming the 79th player in league history to reach 1,000 points, McLellan can also match history with a victory tonight. A win would give him 152, matching Mike Keenan for the most victories in the first three seasons as a NHL head coach.