The Anaheim Ducks have alternated wins and losses during their past 10 games and will try to win back-to-back games for the first time since Jan. 17-19. They are third in the Pacific Division, seven points behind the division-leading San Jose Sharks and two points behind the second-place Edmonton Oilers, after a 5-2 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday. The Ducks are 2-0-1 against Vancouver this season but are taking nothing for granted. "They have a staple of players that are going to compete," coach Randy Carlyle said. "They've got a proud group. You respect the opposition, but we need to make sure we're ready to play the proper way." Center Ryan Kesler, who spent his first 10 NHL seasons with Vancouver, said the Ducks need to be prepared for a challenging game. "[Vancouver players] are vying for jobs next year, but we have to worry about ourselves," he said. "We need to play a heavy game with a defense-first mentality." Goalie Jonathan Bernier is expected to start his fifth consecutive game in place of John Gibson, who remains out with a muscle strain. Bernier is 2-2-0 in four starts since taking over for Gibson. He has faced the Canucks four times in his career, allowing nine goals on 143 shots for a .937 save percentage.
