Morning skate: Ducks playing well ahead of meeting with Sharks

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Programming note 
Sharks-Ducks coverage starts tonight at 7pm with Sharks Pregame Live on CSN California

Where they stand
Sharks: 7-6-0, 14 points, 3rd Pacific Division
Ducks: 4-7-2, 10 points, 5th Pacific Division

The latest

Sharks: The Sharks have split the first two games of a four-game homestand, including a 5-2 win over Florida on Thursday. Brent Burns had one goal and one assist, while Patrick Marleau’s one-man effort on a spectacular second period goal was the game-winner. Alex Stalock got his first win with 31 saves.

Ducks: Anaheim won its third straight on Friday, 4-2 over Columbus at Honda Center. Cam Fowler, Patrick Maroon, Josh Manson and Clayton Stoner (empty net) all scored, while Frederik Andersen made 34 saves on 36 shots.

Keep an eye on…

Sharks: Nikolay Goldobin. In his first career home game, Goldobin set up Marc-Edouard Vlasic for a key second period goal on Thursday as the rookie tries to stick with the big club for a while. Considering the team’s injury situation and the struggles of Matt Nieto, he has a chance to remain for at least the next couple of weeks if he can play a consistently responsible two-way game.

San Jose Sharks

Find the latest San Jose Sharks news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Bay Area and California.

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Ducks: Ryan Getzlaf. The Anaheim captain played his first game on Friday after missing four straight after an appendectomy. Getzlaf had just one assist through the first eight games, but finished with three helpers in the Ducks win over the Blue Jackets.

Probable lines

Sharks
Joonas Donskoi – Joe Thornton – Joe Pavelski
Patrick Marleau – Tomas Hertl – Joel Ward
Nikolay Goldobin – Chris Tierney – Tommy Wingels
Matt Nieto – Micheal Haley – Mike Brown

Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Justin Braun
Paul Martin – Brent Burns
Brenden Dillon – Matt Tennyson

Martin Jones (confirmed starter)
Alex Stalock

Ducks
Patrick Maroon – Ryan Getzlaf – Corey Perry
Carl Hagelin – Ryan Kesler – Chris Stewart
Andrew Cogliano – Shawn Horcoff – Jakob Silfverberg
Chris Wagner – Mike Santorelli – Max Friberg

Hampus Lindholm – Kevin Bieksa
Cam Fowler – Josh Manson
Clayton Stoner – Sami Vatanen

Frederik Andersen
Anton Khudobin

Vitals

Sharks
Goals per game: 2.85 (8th)
Goals-against per game: 2.69 (17th)
Power play: 13.2 percent (22nd)
Penalty kill: 75.0 percent (27th)

Ducks
Goals per game: 1.54 (30th)
Goals-against per game: 2.46 (12th)
Power play: 12.5 percent (25th)
Penalty kill: 90.9 percent (1st)

Injuries/Scratches

Sharks: Ben Smith (head) and Logan Couture (fractured right fibula) are out.

Ducks: Rickard Rakell (upper body) is day-to-day. Nate Thompson (shoulder surgery), Simon Despres (upper body) and Jiri Sekac (upper body) are out.

Season series

Patrick Marleau scored twice in a 2-0 Sharks win against Anaheim on Oct. 10 in what was the Sharks’ home opener and the Ducks’ season opener.

The teams meet twice more after tonight, both in Anaheim, on Dec. 4 and Feb. 2.

Odds and ends

*The Sharks recalled defenseman Mark Cundari from the Barracuda on Saturday morning, but he is not expected to play.

*Owen Nolan will be honored before the game as part of the team's 25th anniversary celebration.

*San Jose is still looking for its first power play goal at home (0-for-15).

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