In Orange County, home to resorts and theme parks, it's time to have some fun with some hockey. At Honda Center in Anaheim, home of the Ducks. A major Pacific Division rivalry is in store between the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks.
For the visitors, the San Jose Sharks, they have been swimming strong into the All-Star break, the Sharks have looked good in their past ten, 8-0-2 in that time frame. "When you're playing this good you don't want a break," Joe Thornton said to the Associated Press. "You just want to play every other day like we've been doing because you feel so good. We've been playing a lot of minutes. If the guys use the rest the right way we'll be fine coming out of the break". Along with getting points, the Sharks are getting goals, they've scored five or more twelve times this year, tied for first in the league. The Sharks have shown depth too with their young players cohabitating well with their older guys. The Sharks want to continue to ride the waters.
For the Ducks, they've been swimming up stream. Outside the playoffs as of right now, but have won five of their last six including a comeback win versus the Bruins to head into the All-Star Break. The Ducks are 10-3-2 in their last fifteen led by Corey Perry and recent addition David Perron. "I'm hoping they feel good about themselves, but at the same time, we're not in a playoff position yet," coach Bruce Boudreau said after last Tuesday's 6-2 win in Boston. "... (The break) might be coming at the worst time for us, but at the same time, when we get out of it, I hope they're hungry for more of the same." The Ducks start to heal up more with Cam Fowler returning back to the flock. He's missed the last thirteen games, Bruce Boudreau said yesterday that "He's our best defensemen, so when you lose him it's difficult ... It's been a while since we've had everybody together". A ton of ice time is also chewed up by the aforementioned Fowler, 22:38 to be exact. This will be the first time since the 4th game of the regular season, per NHL.com's Abbey Mastracco, that the Ducks will have their "full compliment of healthy defensemen"
Tonight's Projected Starting Goalies: Martin Jones vs. Frederik Andersen
Martin Jones, from North Vancouver, BC, his first half of his first NHL starting gig had its bumps along the way, but he's really been a major compliment to the San Jose Sharks. Although, it shouldn't be surprising, he was a standout in junior and in the minors, playing in game number 41 this year for the San Jose Sharks
The netminder from Herning, Denmark, Frederik Andersen, in his 3rd year with the Ducks. He's been overshadowed by young All-Star goalie John Gibson, but if there's one thing that can be said about Andersen is that he is determined, that's how he came from Denmark to the SHL to the AHL to the Ducks in a span of 4 seasons.
