Pacific Division Race
The race for the Pacific Division title is going to be a tight one, as just one point separates the San Jose Sharks, Edmonton Oilers and Ducks. The last time the Avs and Ducks met, Anaheim was tied with San Jose atop the division. The club from Orange County is now just one point behind the Oilers and Sharks--who are tied for the lead--in what is the closest race amongst the top three teams in any NHL division.
Second Half Approach
The Avalanche enters the post-All-Star break portion of the schedule in last place in the Central Division but has been competitive in almost every game since entering their bye week with a 2-1 overtime win over the New York Islanders. Head coach Jared Bednar has seen progress and the effort he wants from his team, and the results are hopefully not too far behind.
"Just trying to stay positive as a group and making sure we're upbeat and keep teaching our guys and keep instilling the culture that we want for our young players coming in here I think is real important for us in the second half," Bednar said following Monday afternoon's practice at Family Sports Center.
Faceoff Matchup
The Ducks and Avs have been two of the top faceoff teams in the NHL for much of this season and enter tonight's matchup ranked first and second, respectively. The Ducks, who have been winning faceoffs at a 55.2 percent clip, are led by Antoine Vermette, who ranks first overall with a 63.5 faceoff win percentage. Vermette is the only player in the league who has taken more than 200 draws that has won more than 60 percent them.
The Avalanche, which has a 53.3 faceoff win percentage, has been paced by Matt Duchene, who ranks second among all NHL skaters with a 59.8 win percentage.
