Anaheim (30-22-8-4) at Phoenix (24-26-8-4)
Although it's not time to celebrate yet, the Anaheim Mighty Ducks are closing in on their first playoff berth in four years.
Anaheim looks to close a productive February when it visits the Phoenix Coyotes.
After finishing a combined 29 games under .500 the past two years, rookie coach Mike Babcock was given the difficult task of trying to get the Mighty Ducks into the postseason.
Babcock was helped by several personnel changes, most notably the trade that brought scoring winger Petr Sykora to Anaheim, as well as the signing of free agent center Adam Oates. Those moves are two reasons why the Mighty Ducks are poised to capture their first playoff berth since the 1998-99 season.
Paul Kariya and Sykora scored, and Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 31 saves as the Mighty Ducks beat the Florida Panthers 2-1 on Wednesday.
The win, which improved Anaheim to 8-4-1 this month, came one night after the Ducks lost 2-0 to Tampa Bay.
``Every time you lose you have to respond,'' Babcock said.
The victory put added breathing room between Anaheim and several teams trying to move into the top eight in the Western Conference.
While the additions of Sykora and Oates have bolstered Anaheim's offense, Giguere's strong play also has also been a huge factor in the team's resurgence.
Giguere, among the league leaders with seven shutouts, has allowed two goals or fewer in eight of his last 10 starts.
The Coyotes, one of the teams trying to make up ground in the playoff race, have kept their slim postseason hopes alive by winning five of seven (5-1-1).
Paul Mara, Daniel Briere and Brad May scored third-period goals, and Sean Burke stopped 33 shots to lead Phoenix to a 4-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday.
``We've struggled this year as a team,'' May said. ``We're not struggling now, not five wins in seven games. The bottom line is we're winning now. We've got to put another streak together. We know we have to play desperate.''
Burke, who has been in goal just 11 times during an injury-filled season, earned his first victory since Jan. 3. The start was his second straight after missing 19 games with a sprained knee.
``I have a little work to do yet,'' Burke said. ``I feel pretty good, but I've got to get a little bit better game shape, although tonight I felt I like I was pretty strong most of the night.''
STANDINGS: Mighty Ducks - 72 points, 2nd place, 15 PB, Pacific Division. Coyotes - 60 points, 4th place, 27 PB, Pacific Division.
TEAM LEADERS: Mighty Ducks - Kariya and Sykora, 23 goals; Kariya, 38 assists and 61 points; Kevin Sawyer, 115 PIM. Coyotes - Mike Johnson, 18 goals, 33 assists and 51 points; Todd Simpson, 97 PIM.
SPECIAL TEAMS (through Feb. 26): Mighty Ducks - Power play: 17.6 percent (48 for 273), 9th (tied) in NHL. Penalty killing: 88.0 percent (235 for 267), 1st. Coyotes - Power play: 14.2 percent (44 for 309), 23rd (tied). Penalty killing: 84.0 percent (267 for 318), 12th.
GOALTENDERS: Mighty Ducks - Giguere (26-18-5, 7 SO, 2.40 GAA); Martin Gerber (3-8-3, 1, 2.05). Coyotes - Burke (5-4-0, 1, 2.27 GAA); Brian Boucher (14-15-7, 2.81).
SEASON SERIES: Mighty Ducks, 2-0-1.
LAST MEETING: Feb. 7; Mighty Ducks, 3-2. At Anaheim, Calif., Jason Krog had three assists, including one on Stanislav Chistov's go-ahead score during a three-goal second period.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Mighty Ducks - 14-14-2-3 on the road; Coyotes - 11-13-5-1 at home.
Nov. 27 at Ana PHO 2 ANA 2 Briere 2 4 tied with 1 N/A
Dec. 22 at Ana ANA 4 PHO 0 3 tied with 2 Havelid 2 Giguere, 24 saves
Feb. 7 at Ana ANA 3 PHO 2 Krog 3 5 tied with 1 Giguere, 31 saves
PHOENIX (Ticker) -- The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim will try to close their four-game road trip on a high note when they visit the Phoenix Coyotes on Friday at America West Arena.
The Mighty Ducks have won two of their first three games on the trip and have had excellent success against the Coyotes. Anaheim has won six of its last seven games against Phoenix and five in a row here.
Anaheim has played excellent defense recently, allowing fewer than three goals in seven of the last eight games. The Ducks also have been soaring on offense, with Paul Kariya picking up 12 points in the last 10 games and Petr Sykora tallying 11.
Although the Coyotes are seven points behind the Edmonton Oilers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, they are 5-1-1 in their last seven games.
Daniel Briere has scored three goals in the last four games to pick up the slack from Shane Doan, Phoenix's second-leading scorer. Doan has not found the net in the last 14 games.
The Coyotes tied the Ducks in their first visit to Anaheim this season, then dropped a 4-0 game in December and a 3-2 decision on February 7.
Anaheim is seventh in the Western Conference with 72 points despite having scored only three more goals than it has allowed.
Anaheim at Phoenix (9 p.m. EST). Anaheim is 8-4-1 in its last 13 games.
(Sports Network) - The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim continue their battle for playoff positioning tonight when they visit the Phoenix Coyotes at America West Arena.
Anaheim, 7-3-1 in its last 11 tries, currently sits seventh in the Western Conference with 72 points -- one behind Minnesota and five ahead of Edmonton. The Ducks are hoping for their first playoff berth since 1999.
On Wednesday, Mike Babcock's crew posted a 2-1 win in Florida, as Petr Sykora snapped a 1-1 tie with 7:50 left in the third period. Paul Kariya also tallied, while Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 31 saves and moved in on the franchise record for victories in a season.
Giguere improved to 27-18-5 on the season and is four shy of Guy Hebert's team mark of 31, set in 1998-99. Giguere is 5-2-1 in his last eight outings.
On the milestone watch, defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh enters tonight's action two points shy of reaching the 500-point plateau for his NHL career. Ozolinsh could become just the seventh defenseman born outside North America to accomplish the feat.
The Ducks, who have won six of their last nine on the road, close out a four- game trek tonight. They'll host Atlanta on Sunday to open a stretch that has them home for six-of-seven.
Phoenix, meanwhile, is 5-1-1 in its last seven games but still sits on the outer reaches of playoff contention. The Coyotes, with 60 points, are seven behind eighth-place Edmonton, although they have a pair of games in hand.
On Wednesday the Coyotes posted a 4-2 win over Carolina, as Sean Burke made 33 saves for his first win since missing 19 games because of a sprained knee. Ladislav Nagy, Paul Mara, Daniel Briere and Brad May scored for Phoenix, which put three goals on the board in the third period.
Nagy's line, which also includes Daymond Langkow and Mike Johnson, has recorded 21 points over the last seven games (9g, 12a). They were reunited on February 14 in Minnesota.
The Coyotes, 11-13-5-1 on home ice, will open a three-game road trip Sunday in Detroit. Anaheim is 2-0-1 against Phoenix this season, and 6-1-1 in the last eight meetings overall. The Ducks have won in five straight trips to 2002-2003
Meetings
11/27 - Tied, 2-2 ot (at Ana)
12/22 - Anaheim, 4-0 (at Ana)
02/07 - Anaheim, 3-2 (at Ana)
2001-2002 Meetings
10/24 - Anaheim, 3-2 ot (at Pho)
12/21 - Anaheim, 2-1 (at Ana)
12/23 - Anaheim, 4-0 (at Pho)
03/27 - Phoenix, 4-2 (at Ana)
03/28 - Anaheim, 2-1 ot (at Pho)
2000-2001 Meetings
11/01 - Tied, 1-1 ot (at Ana)
11/18 - Anaheim, 6-2 (at Pho)
01/19 - Phoenix, 4-3 (at Ana)
02/01 - Anaheim, 4-2 (at Pho)
04/06 - Phoenix, 5-2 (at Ana)
Game Notes
Note - The road team is 8-3-2 in the last 13 meetings.
Note - Anaheim is unbeaten (3-0-1) in the last four meetings.
Note - Anaheim is 6-1-1 in the last eight and 7-2-1 in the last 10 meetings.
Note - Anaheim is 9-3-2 in the last 14 and 10-5-2 in the last 17 meetings.
Note - Anaheim is 11-8-2 in the last 21 meetings.
Note - Anaheim has won five straight and six of its last seven at Phoenix.
Note - Phoenix is winless (0-2-1) in its last three at Anaheim.
Note - These two teams are 3-3-2 in the last eight meetings at Anaheim.
Note - Phoenix is 5-4-2 in its last 11 at Anaheim.
Note - Phoenix is 5-6-3 in its last 14 at Anaheim.
Note - Anaheim is 7-3-1 in its last 11 games.
Note - Anaheim has won six of its last nine road games.
Note - Phoenix is 5-1-1 in its last seven games.
Although it's not time to celebrate yet, the Anaheim Mighty Ducks are closing in on their first playoff berth in four years.
Anaheim looks to close a productive February when it visits the Phoenix Coyotes.
After finishing a combined 29 games under .500 the past two years, rookie coach Mike Babcock was given the difficult task of trying to get the Mighty Ducks into the postseason.
Babcock was helped by several personnel changes, most notably the trade that brought scoring winger Petr Sykora to Anaheim, as well as the signing of free agent center Adam Oates. Those moves are two reasons why the Mighty Ducks are poised to capture their first playoff berth since the 1998-99 season.
Paul Kariya and Sykora scored, and Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 31 saves as the Mighty Ducks beat the Florida Panthers 2-1 on Wednesday.
The win, which improved Anaheim to 8-4-1 this month, came one night after the Ducks lost 2-0 to Tampa Bay.
``Every time you lose you have to respond,'' Babcock said.
The victory put added breathing room between Anaheim and several teams trying to move into the top eight in the Western Conference.
While the additions of Sykora and Oates have bolstered Anaheim's offense, Giguere's strong play also has also been a huge factor in the team's resurgence.
Giguere, among the league leaders with seven shutouts, has allowed two goals or fewer in eight of his last 10 starts.
The Coyotes, one of the teams trying to make up ground in the playoff race, have kept their slim postseason hopes alive by winning five of seven (5-1-1).
Paul Mara, Daniel Briere and Brad May scored third-period goals, and Sean Burke stopped 33 shots to lead Phoenix to a 4-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday.
``We've struggled this year as a team,'' May said. ``We're not struggling now, not five wins in seven games. The bottom line is we're winning now. We've got to put another streak together. We know we have to play desperate.''
Burke, who has been in goal just 11 times during an injury-filled season, earned his first victory since Jan. 3. The start was his second straight after missing 19 games with a sprained knee.
``I have a little work to do yet,'' Burke said. ``I feel pretty good, but I've got to get a little bit better game shape, although tonight I felt I like I was pretty strong most of the night.''
STANDINGS: Mighty Ducks - 72 points, 2nd place, 15 PB, Pacific Division. Coyotes - 60 points, 4th place, 27 PB, Pacific Division.
TEAM LEADERS: Mighty Ducks - Kariya and Sykora, 23 goals; Kariya, 38 assists and 61 points; Kevin Sawyer, 115 PIM. Coyotes - Mike Johnson, 18 goals, 33 assists and 51 points; Todd Simpson, 97 PIM.
SPECIAL TEAMS (through Feb. 26): Mighty Ducks - Power play: 17.6 percent (48 for 273), 9th (tied) in NHL. Penalty killing: 88.0 percent (235 for 267), 1st. Coyotes - Power play: 14.2 percent (44 for 309), 23rd (tied). Penalty killing: 84.0 percent (267 for 318), 12th.
GOALTENDERS: Mighty Ducks - Giguere (26-18-5, 7 SO, 2.40 GAA); Martin Gerber (3-8-3, 1, 2.05). Coyotes - Burke (5-4-0, 1, 2.27 GAA); Brian Boucher (14-15-7, 2.81).
SEASON SERIES: Mighty Ducks, 2-0-1.
LAST MEETING: Feb. 7; Mighty Ducks, 3-2. At Anaheim, Calif., Jason Krog had three assists, including one on Stanislav Chistov's go-ahead score during a three-goal second period.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Mighty Ducks - 14-14-2-3 on the road; Coyotes - 11-13-5-1 at home.
Nov. 27 at Ana PHO 2 ANA 2 Briere 2 4 tied with 1 N/A
Dec. 22 at Ana ANA 4 PHO 0 3 tied with 2 Havelid 2 Giguere, 24 saves
Feb. 7 at Ana ANA 3 PHO 2 Krog 3 5 tied with 1 Giguere, 31 saves
PHOENIX (Ticker) -- The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim will try to close their four-game road trip on a high note when they visit the Phoenix Coyotes on Friday at America West Arena.
The Mighty Ducks have won two of their first three games on the trip and have had excellent success against the Coyotes. Anaheim has won six of its last seven games against Phoenix and five in a row here.
Anaheim has played excellent defense recently, allowing fewer than three goals in seven of the last eight games. The Ducks also have been soaring on offense, with Paul Kariya picking up 12 points in the last 10 games and Petr Sykora tallying 11.
Although the Coyotes are seven points behind the Edmonton Oilers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, they are 5-1-1 in their last seven games.
Daniel Briere has scored three goals in the last four games to pick up the slack from Shane Doan, Phoenix's second-leading scorer. Doan has not found the net in the last 14 games.
The Coyotes tied the Ducks in their first visit to Anaheim this season, then dropped a 4-0 game in December and a 3-2 decision on February 7.
Anaheim is seventh in the Western Conference with 72 points despite having scored only three more goals than it has allowed.
Anaheim at Phoenix (9 p.m. EST). Anaheim is 8-4-1 in its last 13 games.
(Sports Network) - The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim continue their battle for playoff positioning tonight when they visit the Phoenix Coyotes at America West Arena.
Anaheim, 7-3-1 in its last 11 tries, currently sits seventh in the Western Conference with 72 points -- one behind Minnesota and five ahead of Edmonton. The Ducks are hoping for their first playoff berth since 1999.
On Wednesday, Mike Babcock's crew posted a 2-1 win in Florida, as Petr Sykora snapped a 1-1 tie with 7:50 left in the third period. Paul Kariya also tallied, while Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 31 saves and moved in on the franchise record for victories in a season.
Giguere improved to 27-18-5 on the season and is four shy of Guy Hebert's team mark of 31, set in 1998-99. Giguere is 5-2-1 in his last eight outings.
On the milestone watch, defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh enters tonight's action two points shy of reaching the 500-point plateau for his NHL career. Ozolinsh could become just the seventh defenseman born outside North America to accomplish the feat.
The Ducks, who have won six of their last nine on the road, close out a four- game trek tonight. They'll host Atlanta on Sunday to open a stretch that has them home for six-of-seven.
Phoenix, meanwhile, is 5-1-1 in its last seven games but still sits on the outer reaches of playoff contention. The Coyotes, with 60 points, are seven behind eighth-place Edmonton, although they have a pair of games in hand.
On Wednesday the Coyotes posted a 4-2 win over Carolina, as Sean Burke made 33 saves for his first win since missing 19 games because of a sprained knee. Ladislav Nagy, Paul Mara, Daniel Briere and Brad May scored for Phoenix, which put three goals on the board in the third period.
Nagy's line, which also includes Daymond Langkow and Mike Johnson, has recorded 21 points over the last seven games (9g, 12a). They were reunited on February 14 in Minnesota.
The Coyotes, 11-13-5-1 on home ice, will open a three-game road trip Sunday in Detroit. Anaheim is 2-0-1 against Phoenix this season, and 6-1-1 in the last eight meetings overall. The Ducks have won in five straight trips to 2002-2003
Meetings
11/27 - Tied, 2-2 ot (at Ana)
12/22 - Anaheim, 4-0 (at Ana)
02/07 - Anaheim, 3-2 (at Ana)
2001-2002 Meetings
10/24 - Anaheim, 3-2 ot (at Pho)
12/21 - Anaheim, 2-1 (at Ana)
12/23 - Anaheim, 4-0 (at Pho)
03/27 - Phoenix, 4-2 (at Ana)
03/28 - Anaheim, 2-1 ot (at Pho)
2000-2001 Meetings
11/01 - Tied, 1-1 ot (at Ana)
11/18 - Anaheim, 6-2 (at Pho)
01/19 - Phoenix, 4-3 (at Ana)
02/01 - Anaheim, 4-2 (at Pho)
04/06 - Phoenix, 5-2 (at Ana)
Game Notes
Note - The road team is 8-3-2 in the last 13 meetings.
Note - Anaheim is unbeaten (3-0-1) in the last four meetings.
Note - Anaheim is 6-1-1 in the last eight and 7-2-1 in the last 10 meetings.
Note - Anaheim is 9-3-2 in the last 14 and 10-5-2 in the last 17 meetings.
Note - Anaheim is 11-8-2 in the last 21 meetings.
Note - Anaheim has won five straight and six of its last seven at Phoenix.
Note - Phoenix is winless (0-2-1) in its last three at Anaheim.
Note - These two teams are 3-3-2 in the last eight meetings at Anaheim.
Note - Phoenix is 5-4-2 in its last 11 at Anaheim.
Note - Phoenix is 5-6-3 in its last 14 at Anaheim.
Note - Anaheim is 7-3-1 in its last 11 games.
Note - Anaheim has won six of its last nine road games.
Note - Phoenix is 5-1-1 in its last seven games.
