(Sports Network) - The Anaheim Ducks will try to post their first win in two weeks when they welcome the Chicago Blackhawks for today's matinee at the Honda Center. The Ducks have dropped five in a row since last earning a victory on Nov. 12 against Dallas. The skid marks Anaheim's longest losing streak of the season and the club hasn't lost six straight since an 0-5-1 stretch from Jan. 20-Feb. 2.
Anaheim's current 0-3-2 stretch began with an overtime loss in Chicago on Nov. 14. The Ducks have still taken three of their last five meetings with the Blackhawks and Chicago has lost two straight and six of its last seven in Anaheim. The Ducks have been dealt two straight regulation losses, but they haven't played since dropping Sunday's 4-2 decision to visiting Edmonton. Ales Hemsky scored the go-ahead goal in the third period and Devan Dubnyk made 38 saves in the win for the Oilers.
Bobby Ryan and Saku Koivu scored 22 seconds apart for the Ducks, whose losing streak reached five games. Jonas Hiller allowed three goals on 25 shots. "Getting 40 shots isn't relevant if you're just taking shots from the boards and the blue line," said Ducks forward Ryan Getzlaf. "We're not doing a good enough job of getting pucks and people there."
Teemu Selanne missed the last game with a groin injury and the future Hall of Famer is questionable for today's contest. The 40-year-old winger has 22 points (8 goals, 14 assists) in 22 games this season. Today's test marks the end of a three-game homestand for the Ducks, who are 7-3-1 in Orange County this season.
The Blackhawks have lost two of their last three games and were dealt a 5-2 drubbing Wednesday night in San Jose. Antti Niemi turned aside 30 shots to earn the victory for the Sharks in his first meeting against his former mates. Niemi backstopped Chicago to the Stanley Cup title last year, but was allowed to sign with San Jose in the offseason.
Jake Dowell and Patrick Sharp scored for the Blackhawks, who are 1-2-0 so far on a five-game road trip. Marty Turco stopped 24-of-28 shots to suffer the loss. "We want to be better but what are you going to do?" asked Chicago captain Jonathan Toews. "Are you going to get negative and start worrying about what you've done so far this season and how it's not good? No, we're going to keep going forward. It's all we can do, we can't do anything about what has already happened."
The Blackhawks, who will complete their swing tomorrow in Los Angeles, are 6-4-2 as the road team this season.