(Sports Network) - The Anaheim Ducks will be more than ready to welcome in the month of February.
Anaheim will host Phoenix Wednesday in its final game of January, a month in which the Ducks, pending the outcome of the Coyotes game, compiled a 3-5-2 mark for just eight points.
By comparison, the Ducks wrapped up December 9-5-0. The poor month allowed the San Jose Sharks to pull within three points for the lead in the Pacific. The Sharks went 7-3-0 in January and now have 67 points.
The Ducks' worse skid of the month was a four-game losing streak that began with a shootout loss to Colorado on January 13 and culminated with a 3-2 setback to Calgary on January 19.
"We're going back to work," Anaheim head coach Randy Carlyle said after the loss to Calgary. "We're going to have a mini training camp. We know we can play at a higher level than we have been playing lately."
The club took advantage of the All-Star break to regroup, and then bested Dallas 4-1 on Monday.
There is one Anaheim skater that might not be ready to leave January behind, however, and it is no surprise that player is Teemu Selanne.
Selanne comes into play Wednesday with eight goals and three assists in his past nine games. His 31 goals are tied with four other players for second in the league, while Selanne's 17 power-play tallies are tops in the NHL.
The Finland native hit another milestone in January as his 30th goal of the season on January 18 against Edmonton marked the 1,100th point of his career. He also skated in his 10th career All-Star Game and scored a goal.
Selanne now has his sights set on a number of Paul Kariya's club marks. Selanne needs just four goals to even Kariya's 300 as a Duck and will pass Kariya's 107 power-play goals with eight more man-advantage tallies.
Looking down the road, Selanne needs 35 points to match Kariya's 669 with Anaheim.
FULL STORY
Anaheim will host Phoenix Wednesday in its final game of January, a month in which the Ducks, pending the outcome of the Coyotes game, compiled a 3-5-2 mark for just eight points.
By comparison, the Ducks wrapped up December 9-5-0. The poor month allowed the San Jose Sharks to pull within three points for the lead in the Pacific. The Sharks went 7-3-0 in January and now have 67 points.
The Ducks' worse skid of the month was a four-game losing streak that began with a shootout loss to Colorado on January 13 and culminated with a 3-2 setback to Calgary on January 19.
"We're going back to work," Anaheim head coach Randy Carlyle said after the loss to Calgary. "We're going to have a mini training camp. We know we can play at a higher level than we have been playing lately."
The club took advantage of the All-Star break to regroup, and then bested Dallas 4-1 on Monday.
There is one Anaheim skater that might not be ready to leave January behind, however, and it is no surprise that player is Teemu Selanne.
Selanne comes into play Wednesday with eight goals and three assists in his past nine games. His 31 goals are tied with four other players for second in the league, while Selanne's 17 power-play tallies are tops in the NHL.
The Finland native hit another milestone in January as his 30th goal of the season on January 18 against Edmonton marked the 1,100th point of his career. He also skated in his 10th career All-Star Game and scored a goal.
Selanne now has his sights set on a number of Paul Kariya's club marks. Selanne needs just four goals to even Kariya's 300 as a Duck and will pass Kariya's 107 power-play goals with eight more man-advantage tallies.
Looking down the road, Selanne needs 35 points to match Kariya's 669 with Anaheim.
FULL STORY
