Successful Trip Keeps Goal of Playoffs Alive

The Mighty Ducks were five points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference when they embarked on a four-game trip Feb. 4.

Considering their struggles on the road in the season’s first four months, it was a trip that could have crippled any postseason hopes. But the Ducks enter tonight’s home game against the Chicago Blackhawks only four points behind the eighth-place Kings.

They were able to close ground by winning at San Jose and Vancouver and reaching a shootout against Edmonton to claim five out of eight possible points.

Mission accomplished, right? Not necessarily, said defenseman Keith Carney.

“We need all the points we can get,” Carney said. “Our mind-set is we need every point. We want to get into the best possible playoff position.”

Forward Joffrey Lupul echoed those sentiments as he referred to the Ducks’ listless 3-1 loss in Calgary.

“To come out with five out of eight points is pretty good,” Lupul said. “But it could have been even better. Now we’ve got one more game at home before the break. We win that and we’re sitting right on the edge going into the Olympic break.”

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It can be argued that every one of Joe DiPenta’s goals is meaningful since he has only three in his brief NHL career. But his goal that triggered the Ducks’ three-goal first period in Vancouver had extra meaning.

DiPenta played last season for the Manitoba Moose, the Canucks’ American Hockey League affiliate, under current Duck Coach Randy Carlyle.

“Winning against the Vancouver Canucks was special,” said DiPenta, who spent most of the last five years in the minor leagues. “I played for this organization last year. It wasn’t hard for me to get up for this game.”

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TODAY

vs. Chicago, 5, FSN West 2

Site -- Arrowhead Pond.

Radio -- 1090.

Records -- Ducks 26-19-11; Blackhawks 18-30-8.

Record vs. Blackhawks -- 2-0-0.

Update -- The Ducks haven’t lost to Chicago at home since 2001, a span of eight meetings that includes a 3-1 victory on Nov. 27. Center Tyler Arnason, who is reportedly on the trading block, leads the Blackhawks in scoring with 39 points. Defenseman Jassen Cullimore is a minus-21 to rank among the worst in the league.

Tickets -- (877) 945-3946.