DUCKS NOTEBOOK: BACK HOME, FOR GOOD.

Byline: J.P. Hoornstra

Staff Writer

ANAHEIM -- The Ducks don't want to get too comfortable with fourth place in the Western Conference standings. They haven't officially clinched a playoff spot, but can do so with a win or overtime loss at home tonight against the Kings.

At least the Ducks can enjoy the comforts of home beginning tonight at Honda Center. The Ducks won't leave Southern California for any of their final five regular-season games, and only their April 5 contest against the Kings at Staples Center is away from Anaheim.

For their part, the Kings face only an interstate road trip to San Jose after tonight. And with the Ducks trying to get healthy for the playoffs -- four regulars missed Saturday's win in Phoenix with injuries -- the extended homestand could be just what the doctor ordered.

"When you're hurt and you're at home, you have your workout facilities, you have better training facilities, you're more comfortable," veteran Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer said. "A physio/massage guy that you go to is at your disposal. And your team's here as well, so maybe if you're around the team, that's an advantage."

After playing three games in the next five days, the Ducks then get five days off between games next week. Although that gives the team time to rest up, head coach Randy Carlyle said it can be a double-edged sword.

"It'll be an advantage if we have success, and it'll be a disadvantage if we don't play enough games to stay sharp," Carlyle said. "Those things are all assessed after the fact."

As for his inactive regulars -- Ryan Getzlaf (shoulder), Jean-Sebastien Giguere (back), Corey Perry (quad tendon) and Ryan Carter (wrist) -- Carlyle said that "some players that are day to day, some are week to week. Is it an advantage for them not to leave home? I don't think it is."

Giguere cautious

Giguere did not practice for the second straight day and said he was still experiencing stiffness in his lower back, an injury that has sidelined him the past two games.

"It's taking a little while," the Ducks goaltender said, before declaring himself "doubtful" for tonight's game. "I'm hoping to maybe skate tomorrow morning and see how it's going to go. Not having any practice days to skate this week doesn't make things any easier."

Jonas Hiller could be called upon to make his third straight start, with Jean-Sebastien Aubin, whom the Kings dealt to the Ducks at the trading deadline, the other option.

Fast lane to playoffs

There's a daily carpool from Los Angeles to Anaheim that grew from three to four over the weekend.

After the Ducks recalled Aubin from Portland (Maine) of the American Hockey League on Saturday, he joined ex-Kings Mathieu Schneider, Sean O'Donnell and George Parros on the daily ride into Orange County.

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KINGS

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TONIGHT Kings at Ducks, 7 p.m., Honda Center.

TV: FSN Prime.

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Photo:

(color) Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller, left, could get the start for an ailing Jean-Sebastien Giguere tonight against the Kings at Honda Center.

Tony Avelar/The Associated Press