ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Anaheim Ducks seek to maintain their share of first place in the Pacific Division when they meet another surging team, the New Jersey Devils, on Thursday night at the Honda Center.The Ducks joined the Edmonton Oilers at the top of the division by beating them 4-1 on Tuesday night, with goaltender John Gibson making a season-high 33 saves. While the Devils and Ducks face each other, the Oilers play the slumping Los Angeles Kings, whove lost four in a row.Anaheim earned its fourth victory in six games Tuesday night after starting the season by securing only one point while losing its first four games. In their past 13 games, the Ducks have compiled a 8-3-2 record. During that spurt, right winger Corey Perry amassed 10 points in eight games while center Ryan Kesler scored five goals in his past five contests and six goals this month.Were just finding different ways to win, Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler said. Some nights, its our defense not giving up too many opportunities to the other team. Other nights, its been our special teams and power play. Tonight, it was goaltending and scoring at the right times.Wed like to play a little more consistent but were slowly finding our way as a team.Defenseman Josh Manson said he believes the Ducks need to make progress during this five-game homestand, the first of two this season.You want to be a force in your own building, Manson told the Orange County Register. You want teams to come in and realize what theyre coming into and know that its going to be a tough night and know that its going to be no fun. I think thats something were going to work towards here on this homestand.The Devils come to Anaheim with a five-game winning streak, their longest since February 2013. Traditionally strong defensively, the Devils rank second in fewest goals allowed with 31, and fewest goals conceded per game with 2.07.When you win games, the players have to have a certain work ethic, New Jersey coach John Hynes told NHL.com. They have to make smart plays. They have to make the right decisions and they have to play consistently, and I think weve been fortunate enough to be able to do that.That approach enabled the Devils to earn a 2-1 overtime victory Tuesday night in Dallas against the Stars.Were a blue collar team, right winger Kyle Palmieri told the Bergen Record afterward. Were a team that plays a pretty good structured defensive game, but I think tonight we were on our toes all night and attacking and getting chances.However, the Devils will have to play without left winger Taylor Hall, who shares the team lead with five goals and 12 points. Hall, who turned 25 on Monday, underwent knee surgery Wednesday for a torn left meniscus and is expected to be out 3-to-4 weeks. Hall was Edmontons selection as the first overall choice in the 2010 draft but the Oilers traded him to New Jersey in June for defenseman Adam Larsson.Halls absence hurts a power play that has failed to convert its last 21 opportunities over the past six games. Michael Deiter Jersey . Collaros, 25, was solid last season, posting a 5-2 record as the starter while incumbent Ricky Ray was injured. Collaros also started Torontos 23-20 regular-season finale loss to Montreal — Ray didnt dress because the Argos had already clinched first in the East Division — but was one of three quarterbacks to play that day. Michael Deiter Youth Jersey . By having more great seasons. Manning was the only unanimous choice for the 2013 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team Friday. http://www.dolphinsrookiestore.com/Dolphins-Mark-Clayton-Jersey/ . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. Mark Duper Jersey . Catch all the action on TSN2 at 11pm et/8pm pt. The nine-time Big 12 champion Jayhawks are positioning themselves for another title, as they have run out to a flawless 6-0 mark in conference play thus far. Nat Moore Dolphins Jersey . -- Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings was selected Monday to his second straight Pro Bowl, while guard Kyle Long made it after a solid rookie season. TORONTO -- Francisco Liriano wont have fond memories of his first home start with the Blue Jays.Joe Musgrove pitched seven innings for his first major league win, Teoscar Hernandez homered for his first big league hit and the Houston Astros beat Toronto and Liriano 5-3 on Friday night.Making his second start for Toronto since being acquired in an Aug. 1 trade with Pittsburgh, Liriano allowed five runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings.I was behind in the count a lot so that didnt help, Liriano said through a translator.Liriano walked two batters and both came around to score. He has failed to reach the seventh inning 13 times in his past 15 outings.Ive been trying to look for answers, Liriano said. I try to go out there and do my job, but things have been happening a lot for me this year.Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said Liriano pitched better than his line.I didnt think he was that bad, Gibbons said. Hes got a live ball. They did square a couple of balls up and they were costly.Edwin Encarnacion hit his 300th home run and Michael Saunders hit his career-high 20th, but the Blue Jays lost for the first time in four meetings with the Astros.Good for Eddie, Gibbons said. He puts himself in a different category with 300.Astros DH Evan Gattis had four hits, including two doubles. Hernandez had two hits and reached base three times while George Springer singled and walked three times.Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve had two RBI each as Houston extended its winning streak to four.Making his second career start, and facing the team that drafted him in 2011, Musgrove (1-0) allowed two runs and six hits.Its awesome, Musgrove said. Its definitely good to get that first one out of the way, get the nerves and stuff out of the way.The Blue Jays traded Musgrove to the Astros in July 2012, as part of a nine-player deal that sent left-hander J.A. Happ to Toronto.Hernandez found out Thursday that he was being selected from Triple-A, and was too excited to sleep before catching a 4:00 a.m. flight from Fresno. He finally arrived at Rogers Centre about an hour before the game, and didnt even have time to take any swings before his first at-bat, a walk.dddddddddddd He homered in the sixth and singled in the eighth.Incredible day, a day that Im never going to forget, Hernandez said.POWER TRIOToronto is the fifth team in the majors with at least three hitters with 20 homers (Encarnacion, Josh Donaldson, Saunders). The others are Baltimore, Colorado, Detroit, and Seattle. The Orioles have four 20-homer hitters.GURRIELS DEBUT DRAWS NEARCuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel, who signed a five-year, $47.5 million deal with Houston on July 16, is expected to make his major league debut against St. Louis on Tuesday. Gurriel defected in February after competing in the Caribbean World Series in the Dominican Republic. He entered play Friday batting .321 with one home run and nine RBI in eight games at three minor league levels.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: OF Colby Rasmus had surgery Wednesday to remove a cyst from his right ear. He is expected back by mid-September. ... OF Jake Marisnick (right groin) was not in the lineup for a second straight game. He is day-to-day. ... OF Preston Tucker (right shoulder) was placed on the 15-day DL. ... Houston activated RHP Luke Gregerson (left oblique) off the 15-day DL and put RHP Ken Giles on the paternity list.Blue Jays: OF Ezequiel Carrera (left Achilles) went 0 for 4 and struck out three times in a rehab game at Triple-A Buffalo. Carrera is expected to come off the DL on Tuesday.UP NEXTAstros: RHP Collin McHugh (7-9, 4.69) has lost his past three decisions. McHugh matched a season-worst by giving up 10 hits in an Aug. 8 start at Minnesota.Blue Jays: RHP Aaron Sanchez (11-2, 2.85) lost at Kansas City in his previous start, his first defeat since April 22 against Oakland. Gibbons confirmed Friday Sanchez will be skipped in the rotation over the next few weeks in an effort to limit his innings. ' ' '