If They Take Care of Business, Payoff Will Be the Playoffs

There are few teams the Mighty Ducks would swap places with at the moment, unless the category was attendance revenue. That is a brave new world for a franchise that is usually boning up on the draft and preparing for free agency and contract negotiations by now.

Barring a collapse by a team higher in the standings or surges from teams below, there are four teams -- the Ducks, Minnesota, Edmonton and Chicago -- that are vying for three playoff slots. The Ducks are in seventh place, one point behind sixth-place Minnesota and five points ahead of ninth-place Chicago.

“We have worked our butts off and are in a position where we know instead of hope,” Coach Mike Babcock said. “We don’t have to look at the scoreboard or watch other teams on TV. We just have to do our job. With that comes pressure, to work hard and be mentally prepared to play. If you think the games are intense now, wait until there are 10-15 left.”

The Ducks’ 66 points are the most the franchise has had at this point in the season.

“There is a quarter of a season left,” said Petr Sykora, a veteran of many playoff runs while with New Jersey. “If you don’t stay focused, you’ll find yourself chasing teams ahead of you real quick. We have to stay away from losing a few games in a row, like we did after Christmas. If we lose a game, we have get those two points right back the next game.”

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TONIGHT

vs. Columbus, 7:30

Site -- Arrowhead Pond.

Radio -- KPLS (830).

Records -- Ducks 27-20-8-4, Blue Jackets 22-28-6-2.

Record vs. Blue Jackets -- 2-0-0-0.

Update -- Duck forwards Dan Bylsma (sore knee), Kevin Sawyer (concussion) and Andy McDonald are not ready to play in games, Babcock said. Columbus goalie Marc Denis was 4-1-2 with a 1.68 goals-against average in his last seven games before facing Phoenix on Tuesday.

Tickets -- (877) 945-3946.