SoCal NHL Preview

Los Angeles (30-40-6) at Anaheim (43-26-8), 7:00 pm

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) - A pair of clubs heading in opposite directions meet Wednesday when the Anaheim Ducks host the Los Angeles Kings. The Ducks, reigning Stanley Cup champions and virtually in the playoffs, will be looking to extend their team-record nine-game home winning streak. The Kings are simply hoping to avoid finishing last in the NHL.

Anaheim, 25-8-4 at home, is one win away from matching the franchise record for home victories in a season. "If it wasn't for our home record, we wouldn't be sitting where we are right now," Ducks' center Rob Niedermayer said. Anaheim has surged into fourth place in the Western Conference with a 16-4-1 record since February 5. The Ducks haven't lost at home since a 4-2 defeat to Dallas on February 15. Anaheim is coming off a 2-1 victory over Phoenix on Saturday despite the absence of No. 1 goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere because of back spasms. The Ducks have lost four of their last five games against the Kings, but have won three straight at home in the series.

Los Angeles, which has a league-low 66 points, has won two straight for the first time since early February. The Kings can avoid finishing last in the league if they can catch the Tampa Bay Lighting, who are two points ahead. "Our fate has kind of been written," Kings' defenseman Rob Blake said. "We're out of the playoffs. We want a little respect."