SoCal NHL Preview

Phoenix (9-10-0) at Anaheim (10-9-3), 1:00 pm
ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) - The Anaheim Ducks seem to be shaking off their Stanley Cup hangover, which is bad news for the lowly Phoenix Coyotes. The Ducks will look to get back on the winning track when they host the Coyotes on Friday. Anaheim got off to a slow start this season after winning the franchise's first championship in June. The Ducks opened with nine losses in their first 13 games, seven in regulation. But the Ducks have been on a roll lately, outscoring their opponents by a combined 15-9 and winning four in a row prior to a 2-1 setback at Dallas on Wednesday. Top goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere earned the win in each game during the recent streak - winning twice in shootouts - and owns a 2.42 goals against average this season. The Coyotes are coming off back-to-back wins against the Los Angeles Kings. Phoenix has played the defending champs three times already this season, winning twice. Center Peter Mueller notched a hat trick in the Coyotes' 6-5 overtime win over the Ducks here on November 7. Ilya Bryzgalov was claimed by Phoenix off waivers from Anaheim on Saturday and has been in goal for each of the past two wins, allowing just one goal.