Canucks seek rare back-to-back win as they visit Ducks in high-stakes Pacific showdown

The Vancouver Canucks will look to build real momentum for the first time in months on Sunday night, riding into Anaheim for a clash with the Ducks at the Honda Center with back-to-back wins in their sights.

Vancouver halted a four-game losing streak with a victory over the San Jose Sharks and will now attempt to string together wins for the first time since December 19 and 20. It is a milestone that has proved elusive for a club searching for consistency down the stretch of the regular season.

Anaheim arrives having just stopped its own bleeding, thumping the Sharks 6-1 to break a six-game losing slide. The victory was welcome relief but the Ducks remain in a precarious position, battling to hold onto a Top 3 spot in the Pacific Division. Their recent form has been undermined by defensive troubles that will concern head coach Greg Cronin greatly. Anaheim ranks fourth-worst in the NHL in goals against, allowing an alarming 3.51 per game, and has conceded four or more goals in six of its last seven outings.

That defensive vulnerability makes Sunday's total an intriguing proposition. The Over has connected in five of the last seven encounters between these rivals, and with both clubs showing offensive life, another high-scoring affair looks likely. The puck is scheduled to drop at 8:00 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on Sportsnet Pacific.

From a tactical angle, Drew O'Connor presents a player to watch despite his recent drought. O'Connor has found the net in all three previous meetings with the Ducks this season, with his last goal coming against Anaheim on March 24. He has not scored in eight straight games, but a matchup against this leaky defence could provide the ideal reset.

Jake DeBrusk notched his 20th goal of the campaign against the Sharks and unleashed eight shots on goal in that outing. He has cleared a 2.5 shot line in each of his last two games versus the Ducks, combining for 10 shots on target across those matches. His shot volume against this opponent suggests another productive night is well within reach.

The head-to-head record tilts heavily in Vancouver's favour. The Canucks have won eight of the last 10 meetings with the Ducks, a dominance that underscores the size of the task facing Anaheim on Sunday night. With both teams having something to play for and defensive questions lingering on both sides, this one could go down to the wire.