vs. , 10 p.m. ETThere is not a hotter team in the NHL right now than the Anaheim Ducks, and suddenly, they are looking like Stanley Cup contenders again.They enter play on Thursday night in Vancouver just three points behind the for first place in the Pacific Division, and if everything goes their way (they beat the Canucks and the Kings lose to St. Louis) could finish the night just a single point back. Considering where Kyle Freeland Jersey this team was just a couple of months ago in late December, sitting in last place in the entire NHL and 13 points behind the Kings, it is a remarkable turnaround.They have a 17-4-2 run over their past 23 games to thank for it.They close out their current seven-game road trip tonight in Mark Reynolds Jersey Vancouver and will be looking to extend their winning streak to four games. So far it's been a wildly succe sful trip that has seen them earn nine of their first 12 points that have been available to them, including at least a point in each of the past five games are losing the first game of the trip in Pittsburgh.The biggest factor in their turnaround this season has been the simple fact their best players have finally started to find the back of the net after a terrible 10-game start to the season. After averaging just one goal per game through the first 10, the Ducks have averaged 2.93 in the 43 games that have followed, a mark that would be good enough to put them near the top of the league. has been on an absolute tear during that stretch, while is piling up the points even though he's not Jon Gray Jersey scoring a ton of goals himself. He only has six goals on the season (on pace for a career-low), but his 38 a sists are fifth best in the entire league. The puck may not be going in the net off of his stick, but he has certainly been creating a ton of offense. has also been a welcome addition to the lineup following the trade with Pittsburgh and the change of scenery seems to be doing wonders for him. After recording just 16 points in 43 games with the Penguins, he already has 13 points in 13 games with the Ducks.On Thursday they get a Canucks team that simply has not been very good this season, and seems to be getting worse. The Canucks enter Thursday with lo ses in six of their past eight games while being outscored by a 25-16 margin. Nolan Arenado Jersey Their past two games, lo ses to a bad Toronto team and a Minnesota team that just fired its coach and had lost eight in a row, saw them get outscored Jonathan Lucroy Jersey by a 10-4 margin. At the end of the day, it's a team that is probably best served at this point by losing the rest of the way at Auston Matthews.They should get that help on Thursday against the Ducks. Pick: Anaheim Ducks 4, Vancouver Canucks 2 The rest of Thursday's picks 5, 4 3, 2 4, 1 3, 1 5, 2 3, 2Los Angeles Kings 2, 0 4, 3 3, 1 5, 3