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Ducks visit Canucks in clash between division winners

Apr 25, 2013 - 3:23 PM (Sports Network) - Three days after securing their respective divisions, the Anaheim Ducks and Vancouver Canucks will square off on Thursday night at Rogers Arena.

The Ducks and Canucks are locked into the Western Conference's second and third seed, respectively, in the upcoming playoffs. Anaheim will finish behind the Chicago Blackhawks after winning the Pacific Division for only the second time in franchise history and claiming its first since its Stanley Cup- winning 2006-07 season.

Vancouver, meanwhile, also secured home-ice advantage through at least the first round after winning its fifth straight Northwest Division title.

Both clubs locked up their respective division crowns on Monday as the Ducks defeated the Edmonton Oilers and the Canucks bested the Blackhawks.

Viktor Fasth made 24 saves to notch the fourth shutout of his rookie campaign as Anaheim won in Edmonton for a second straight night following an 0-3-1 skid. Fasth was backed by goals from Ryan Getzlaf, Radek Dvorak and Sami Vatanen.

Corey Perry recorded two assists

"We have to keep working hard. We still have things to work on," Fasth said.

Anaheim won despite Sheldon Souray and Luca Sbisa sitting out with lower body injuries, while Bobby Ryan was held out due to illness.

The Ducks will end their regular season on at home versus the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday and are 16-6-1 at home compared to 13-5-5 on the road.

The Canucks won their eighth straight at home when they defeated the Blackhawks 3-1 on Monday. Daniel Sedin had a goal and an assist to move into second place on the franchise's all-time list with 758 career points, behind only twin brother Henrik Sedin (791 points).

Zack Kassian and Jannik Hansen both scored for the Canucks, while Cory Schneider made 24 saves to help the team win its second straight game overall.

"We're proud of what we've achieved here but it's just a start," said Schneider. "Our goal is the Stanley Cup and if we keep playing the way we did tonight we'll be there at the end."

Vancouver announced on Wednesday that Schneider is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury and recalled Joe Cannata. Roberto Luongo will start tonight with Schneider out.

The Canucks have won all five of their home games this month and are 15-5-3 as the host. They end their regular season on Saturday in Edmonton.

These two clubs have split their last 10 meetings. The Ducks opened the shortened campaign with a 7-3 win in Vancouver on Jan. 19, getting two goals and two assists from Teemu Selanne, while the Canucks responded six days later with a 5-0 triumph in Anaheim. Schneider made 30 saves and Daniel Sedin had a goal and an assist.

The Ducks are 3-0-1 in their past four in Vancouver.