Programming note: Sharks-Ducks coverage starts tonight at 6:30 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet California with Sharks Pregame Live (territory restrictions apply)
ANAHEIM – The first two times the Sharks met the Anaheim Ducks, San Jose was reeling.
On Oct. 26, the Sharks visited the Ducks while on a four-game losing streak, including a lackluster home loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Despite looking very much like a sinking ship, San Jose pounded out a convincing 4-1 win in a game that included five fights and 165 penalty minutes.
That night seemed to spark the Sharks, as they picked up seven of a possible 10 points over their next five games.
They weren’t able to maintain that pace, though, and a subpar road trip gave way to a homestand that began with three straight losses. Rumors about head coach Todd McLellan’s status were rampant when the Sharks jumped out to a 5-0 lead on Nov. 29, and held on for a 6-4 win.
That game was the first win of their current run of nine wins out of 10 games, all of them coming in regulation or overtime.
The third meeting of the season series on Monday at Honda Center is simply featuring two teams that look like legitimate playoff clubs again.
“The circumstances are different leading up to the game,” Tommy Wingels said on Monday morning. “The preparation, the mindset, the execution all has to be the same. We’ve got to approach it the same way and get the results that we did the past couple times.”
Joe Pavelski said: “Every time we play them whether it’s the top or bottom of the standings, it’s a good game. We’re looking for an exciting matchup tonight.”
Todd McLellan admitted that games either before or after a mid-season break are concerning from a coach's standpoint. San Jose will enjoy four straight CBA-mandated days away from the rink immediately after tonight’s game.
He considers another meeting with the Ducks to be a good test for the team’s new leadership core, which will continue to be a topic of discussion all season long.
“I think tonight will be a good test for our young leaders,” McLellan said. “These games pre and post-Christmas, pre and post-All-Star game always scare me. Where’s the focus, and can the coaching staff and the leadership group pull everybody together to be ready to play?
“Things have gone our way over the last little bit, and we’ll see how we lead ourselves into this one, because we’re going to need to be ready.”
McLellan will once again turn to Antti Niemi in net. The goaltender has won his last seven starts sandwiched around a minor injury that kept him out for three games, and was in net for both wins over Anaheim this season.
“Nemo has had some past success and is on a bit of a roll,” McLellan said. “He didn’t play for a while when he got hurt. I’d like to get him this final game.”
There would be no better way for the Sharks to close out the pre-Christmas schedule than with another victory of the team they are chasing in the Pacific Division.
“We realize there’s a little break coming, but that being said there’s a lot of work left to be done tonight,” Pavelski said.
