Anaheim sits third in the Pacific Division by points (25) and point percentage (.595). The Ducks have earned points in 11 of their last 14 games (8-3-3).
Tonight's game marks a meeting of two of the league's best special teams units. Anaheim and Toronto are two of just four NHL clubs to rank in the top ten of the league on both the power play (ANA: 28.1%, TOR: 24.6%) and penalty kill (ANA: 86.7%, TOR: 86.4%). The Ducks have killed 29 of their opponents' last 31 power plays (93.5%), spanning 12 games.
The Maple Leafs are visiting Anaheim for the first time since Mar. 6, 2020, the team's second-to-last game before the NHL suspended the 2019-20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ducks have excelled on home ice early in the season, currently tied for second in the NHL in home wins (seven) and tied for third in home points (17).
Anaheim has only allowed 20 goals in 12 games at Honda Center this season, posting the best goals against per game in the NHL on home ice (1.67 per game) and the fewest goals against in club history through 12 home games.
Toronto's roster includes a pair of faces familiar to Ducks fans in forwards Nick Ritchie and Ondrej Kase. Ritchie, selected by Anaheim with the tenth pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, scored 43-66=109 points in 287 games as a Duck (2015-20). Kase, a 2014 seventh-round selection, notched 43-53=96 points in 198 appearances.
Known for their high-scoring offense, the Maple Leafs have actually been one of the NHL's best defensive clubs in the opening months of the season. Toronto ranks in the top ten among league leaders in goals allowed per game (2.18, third), shots against (30.0, eighth) and penalty kill percentage (86.4%, seventh).
Anaheim and Toronto will play the Canadian half of the two-game season series on Jan. 26.
