GameThread: Sharks @ Ducks - A Tale Of Two Teams

The Ducks are (presumably) in a good place. Despite Saturday's loss to the Blues - a game they should have won - their road trip was largely successful. We are 7-0-3 since our 5-2 loss to the Kings on February 25. We have a hold on the number-2 position in the Western Conference, 4 points behind Chicago. We have won two straight against the Sharks, and six of eight at home. In fact, even during the miserable 2011-12 season, we seemed to have the Sharks' number for some reason. And a win on Monday would be our 12th straight home victory.

The Sharks, meanwhile, are in a very different place. A loss tomorrow would be the Sharks' season-high fifth road loss. They haven't lost 5 consecutive road games since 2010. While this seems to bode well for us, I can easily see a situation where the Sharks dig deep and pull out a win.

What must we do tomorrow to ensure that this doesn't happen? Well, in the absence of Corey Perry, Bobby Ryan and Ryan Getzlaf must show up. Getzlaf, in particular, hasn't scored any points since Perry's suspension.

And the Ducks will have to watch out for Logan Couture. He was held without a point in the Sharks' loss to LA on Saturday, but has scored four goals and an assist in the previous 4. A final note: if Couture scores the game-winning goal for the Sharks, you are welcome to show up at my door with pitchforks. Robby will be leading the caravan.

FOWL!