The Anaheim Ducks look to improve their playoff chances tonight at Honda Center as they host the reeling Colorado Avalanche. Corey Perry will look to extend a five-game goal-scoring streak for the Ducks, who are currently in seventh place in the tightly-packed Western Conference playoff race. Perry has eight goals in his last five contests, and his 85 points lead the team. The Ducks are a mere four points from the fourth seed, but also only three points ahead of 10th place in the West:
| NHL Western Conference Standings | ||||
| Rank | Team | Record | Points | Games Left |
| 1 | Vancouver | 50-17-9 | 109 | 6 |
| 2 | Detroit | 44-22-9 | 97 | 7 |
| 2 | San Jose | 44-23-9 | 97 | 6 |
| 4 | Phoenix | 41-25-11 | 93 | 5 |
| 5 | Los Angeles | 43-26-6 | 92 | 7 |
| 5 | Nashville | 41-25-10 | 92 | 6 |
| 7 | Anaheim | 42-28-5 | 89 | 7 |
| 8 | Chicago | 40-26-8 | 88 | 8 |
| 9 | Calgary | 38-28-11 | 87 | 5 |
| 10 | Dallas | 38-26-10 | 86 | 8 |
The Avalanche have been struggling over the last few months, going 3-20-2 in their last 25 games. Colorado has lost 13 of their last 15 road games as well. Anaheim has won all three meetings with the Avalanche this season, outscoring them 12-4 in those three games. The Ducks are 10-3 in their last 13 games.
The Ducks play the Sharks twice and the Kings twice in their final seven games, but also have tonight's game, plus tilts with Dallas and Calgary, who are below them in the standings, so the Ducks in many ways hold their playoff fate in their own hand.
For more Ducks news or for more information on tonight's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Anaheim Calling.