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Ducks aim to end four-game skid vs. streaking Blue Jackets

Nov 1, 2007 - 1:31 PM Columbus (7-3-1) at Anaheim (4-7-2) 10:00 pm EDT

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- The Anaheim Ducks are not used to losing this much.

The Ducks look to snap a four-game skid when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.

Anaheim, which became the first California-based team to win the Stanley Cup last season, has suffered a slew of injuries that have contributed to its slow start.

Goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere had offseason hernia surgery and has played in just five games, while right wing Todd Bertuzzi has missed the last six games with a concussion.

Also missing is defensemen Mathieu Schneider, who has yet to play a game while recovery from a broken foot. Meanwhile, center Ryan Getzlaf has missed three games with a forearm injury.

On Sunday, Giguere was beaten twice in a 3-2 shootout loss to Edmonton. Now, Giguere will have to rebound from that performance to help the Ducks avoid losing five straight for the first time since an eight-game skid from November 3-20, 2005.

On the other end of the spectrum is Columbus, which has won five straight after Pascal Leclaire stopped 33 shots in a Wednesday's 4-1 win over Los Angeles.

Leclaire, who has a league-leading four shutouts, stopped 28 shots in a season-opening 4-0 win over Anaheim on October 5.

Jason Chimera scored two goals in Wednesday's win and has registered four tallies in the last three games.