GameThread: Ducks @ Blackhawks

Numbers for Nerds: Anaheim and Chicago are currently the two highest-scoring teams in the NHL. Tonight's home team has potted 177 goals thus far, and the good guys are right behind them with 170 [Ed. Note: Should have just put seven more in Wednesday night to tie it up, eh? -CK]. The Ducks have scored five or more goals 15 times this season, giving SoCal Duck fans an abundance of Hooters. The Hawks, however, have achieved that accomplishment 18 times without the free wings, 10 of them being on home ice, which leads to my assumption that every one of their fans have to be getting pretty sick of listening to Chelsea Dagger by now, right? Right?

Defense may win championships, ladies and gentlemen, but offense sells tickets (or so I've been told).

Team Records: Ducks: 36-8-5, Blackhawks: 30-8-11; Head-to-Head: Ducks lead 1-0

Team Leaders: Ducks: Ryan Getzlaf (23-32-55), Corey Perry (27-26-53), Nick Bonino (15-20-35)

Blackhawks: Patrick Kane (23-33-56), Patrick Sharp (25-24-49), Jonathan Toews (17-30-47)

Goalies: Ducks: John Gibson was sent down today so it looks like Jonas Hiller (23-4-4, 2.34 GAA, .914 SV%) will start and Frederik Anderson (11-2-0, 1.98 GAA, .927 SV%) will back up.

Blackhawks: Corey Crawford: 17-7-7, 2.48 GAA, .911 SV% OR Antti Raanta: 12-1-3, 2.25 GAAA, .911 SV%

Power Play: Ducks: 18.8%, 15th (!) in the NHL; Perry and Bonino lead with 6 PP goals each

Blackhawks: 23.4%, 4th in the NHL; Kaner has 9 PP tallies

Penalty Kill: Ducks: 81.3%, 16th in the NHL; Andrew "Wheels" Cogliano with 2 shorties

Blackhawks: 76.4%, 28th in the NHL; Michal Handzus, Marian Hossa, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Toews all with 1 shorthanded goal