SoCal NHL Preview

Phoenix (7-10-0) at Los Angeles (8-9-1), 1:00 pm
LOS ANGELES (Ticker) - The Phoenix Coyotes are happy to not be playing the San Jose Sharks. On Saturday, the Coyotes try to snap a three-game losing streak when they face off against the Los Angeles Kings. Phoenix has lost three straight games - all against the Sharks. The Coyotes managed just one goal in the trio of contests while allowing 15 to San Jose. The Coyotes are currently the worst team in the Western Conference, but are just one point below the Edmonton Oilers at the bottom of the standings. Phoenix hopes to fare better against the Kings, who they play in each of their next two games. The Kings haven't fared much better than the Coyotes recently, dropping both games of the newly named "free-way faceoff" series against the Anaheim Ducks. Los Angeles lost the first game of the series in a shootout before suffering a 6-3 loss in the second game against the Ducks on Thursday.


Anaheim (9-8-3) at San Jose (11-7-2), 7:30 pm
SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) - The Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks put their winning streaks on the line when they face off on Saturday. The Ducks are on a three-game winning streak which began with a 3-2 shootout triumph over the Sharks on Friday. Ryan Getzlaf and Andy McDonald each scored a goal in regulation and both scored in the shootout as Anaheim skated away with the victory. Getzlaf and McDonald have helped carry the Ducks' offense this season. Getzlaf has seven goals and 13 assists this season for a team-high 22 points. McDonald has just three tallies but eight helpers - ranking fifth on the team with 11 points. The Sharks, meanwhile, have won each of their last four games, including three against the Western Conference's worst team - the Phoenix Coyotes. San Jose has been terrific over the span, scoring 19 goals while allowing just four. Joe Thornton has been a big part of the offensive eruption, scoring eight goals with 16 assists this season. Thornton's 24 points is double that of Jeremy Roenick, who is second on the team with 12 points.