Games still have meaning

Now that the Ducks have secured a playoff spot, any thought that they have nothing to play for is met with a quick rebuttal.

For one, there is the matter of home-ice advantage in the first round. The Ducks, with four games left, are in position to secure that as the fourth-seeded team in the Western Conference, where they have a six-point lead over Calgary, currently fifth.

Also on the line is a club-record 10-game winning streak at the Honda Center, where the Ducks are 26-8-4 – all the more reason to take tonight’s game against San Jose with all the seriousness of the postseason.

The Ducks, with 96 points, still have a chance at the Pacific Division title, albeit a very slim one. The Sharks currently sit atop the division with 102 points.

“The importance of the games has only ramped up,” Coach Randy Carlyle said Thursday. “Simple as that. It’s the biggest game of the year.”

More important, the Ducks have fresh memories of their 2-1 loss in San Jose last week, which included an embarrassing third period in which they were held without a shot on goal.

“It’s fresh from the standpoint that we didn’t play to the level that was required,” Carlyle said. “We don’t like it when you review it and we’ve done lots of review on it. There’s another level that we’ve got to play to.”

Defenseman Mathieu Schneider agreed, saying it was an example of them playing “tired.”

Left wing Chris Kunitz said the defeat still stings.

“I didn’t know we didn’t have a shot in the third period until the end of the game,” he said. “Obviously it’s fresh on our minds when we’re trying to catch them. They’re the team that’s in front of us and they’ve been playing really well.”

The injury-depleted Ducks are hoping to get back some key players.

Goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere pronounced himself ready after missing the last three games because of back spasms. “It’s a little stiff in the mornings, but every day it’s better,” he said.

Center Ryan Getzlaf practiced for the first time since injuring his shoulder against the Sharks. Getzlaf, who reported continued improvement, could be a game-time decision.

TONIGHT

vs. San Jose, 7, FSN Prime Ticket

Site – Honda Center.

Radio – 1150.

Records – Ducks 44-26-8; Sharks 46-21-10.

Record vs. Sharks – 5-1-1.

Update – Now the question is whether Carlyle will go back to Giguere in goal or stick with hot rookie Jonas Hiller, who has given up two goals or fewer in his last five starts. As usual, it’s not known since Carlyle never announces who will start the next game.

Tickets – (877) 945-3946.

eric.stephens@latimes.com