The Calgary Flames (35-27-12, fourth in the Pacific Division, six points away from the second wild-card spot) will host The Anaheim Ducks (33-33-8, sixth in the Pacific Division, 14 points away from the second wild-card spot).
This will be the third of four meetings between the two teams. Calgary won both previous games.
This will be a big matchup for the Flames who are returning to the Saddledome after going on a three-game road-trip where they compiled a 1-1-1 record. They are facing a Ducks squad whose hopes of making the playoffs have all but gone up in smoke, and are playing to prove they can still skate with the best. A win will do nothing but wonders for the Flames’ already-faint playoff hopes, but a team like Anaheim that has nothing to lose, could just shatter those post-season dreams completely. The Ducks have an arsenal of second- and third-line center duos Mason McTavish and Leo Carlsson who have been on a tear in the past month, going a point or better per game.
HEAD 2 HEAD
The Calgary Flames have the second-highest save% against the Anaheim Ducks at even-strength and are 16th in save% in 4 vs 5 penalty kill situations. Dustin Wolf has clearly enjoyed playing against the Ducks. Penalty kill seems to be the Achilles.
On the other side, the Flames have the seventh-highest shooting% at even-strength, and an unfortunate zero in shooting% in 5 vs 4 power play situations against the Ducks.
We’ve mentioned in previous articles that Calgary’s PP unit has not been up to par. Maybe that changes this time around.
The Anaheim Ducks have the tenth-worst save% against the Calgary Flames at even-strength and a solid 100 in save% in 4 vs 5 penalty kill situations. On the other side, the Ducks have the second-worst shooting% at even strength, and are tenth in shooting% in 5 vs 4 power play situations against the Flames.
(source: NaturalStatTrick)
TALE OF THE TAPE (SKATERS)
TALE OF THE TAPE (GOALIES)
PLAYOFF ODDS
Regardless of the result, this game has minimal to no impact to the Ducks’ playoff odds.
For the Flames, the playoff odds change in the following ways depending on the result:
