(Sports Network) - The Anaheim Ducks will try to close out a four-game homestand with a third victory in as many meetings with the Phoenix Coyotes this season as the two clubs battle it out at the Honda Center. The Ducks had won three straight, including the first two contests of their residency, before Friday's 4-0 setback to the Red Wings. Detroit's Jimmy Howard made 41 saves in his second shutout this season of Anaheim.
Jonas Hiller, meanwhile, stopped 25 shots as Anaheim lost for the seventh time in 10 games and fell to 9-5-1 at home this year. The Ducks had scored 13 goals over their win streak and were blanked for the first time since a season- opening 4-0 loss in Detroit on Oct. 8. "We did a lot of good things in the hockey game," said Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle. "We controlled a lot of the play. We weren't able to find a way to score a goal."
Forward Teemu Selanne, who has eight goals and 16 assists this season, sat out for the fourth time in six games due to a groin injury that has him day-to- day. Phoenix has lost three of four since a seven-game winning streak and dropped a 2-1 shootout contest at home to Florida last night. Martin Hanzal scored in regulation while Radim Vrbata and Scottie Upshall scored in the shootout.
Ilya Bryzgalov made 36 saves and helped Phoenix kill off a 5-on-3 Florida power play in overtime, but was beaten three times in the shootout session. "There was good things I saw in the game and there were some disappointing things," said Phoenix head coach Dave Tippett. "I was disappointed in our power play in the third period. We really let that momentum slip away. I'm also disappointed in the penalties."
The Coyotes play seven of their next nine on the road, where they have won five of six and are 7-4-2 this season. The Coyotes took four of six from the Ducks last year, but Anaheim has countered with a pair of victories so far this year. The Ducks posted a 6-4 victory in Anaheim on Nov. 27, getting a hat trick by Bobby Ryan and four assists from Ryan Getzlaf.
Ryan has 10 goals and 16 points in 16 games versus the Coyotes, Getzlaf has nine goals and 28 assists in 33 games and Hiller is 10-2-2 with a 2.49 goals- against average in 15 starts versus the club. Anaheim's 3-2 home victory on Oct. 17 over Phoenix was the club's second straight and fifth in the last six at home in this series. Bryzgalov is 9-7-2 with a 2.81 GAA in his career versus the Ducks, making 19 saves on 25 shots in November's loss, while backup Jason LaBarbera turned aside 32-of-35 shots faced in the October meeting to fall to 3-3-1 with a 2.49 GAA versus Anaheim lifetime.
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