After three days off, the Calgary Flames (9-5-1, 19 points) try to continue their winning ways when they visit the Anaheim Ducks (6-7-3, 15 points). It’s a big Pacific Division tilt with two key points on the line.
It’s a late start: 8:30 p.m. MT on Sportsnet West and Sportsnet 960 The Fan. Put some coffee on!
The Flames
Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:
Gaudreau – Monahan – Lindholm
Tkachuk – Backlund – Neal
Bennett – Ryan – Frolik
Peluso – Jankowski – Czarnik
Tkachuk – Backlund – Neal
Bennett – Ryan – Frolik
Peluso – Jankowski – Czarnik
Giordano – Brodie
Hanifin – Hamonic
Valimaki – Andersson
Hanifin – Hamonic
Valimaki – Andersson
Mike Smith starts for the Flames, backed up by David Rittich. The healthy scratches are Garnet Hathaway, Dalton Prout and Michael Stone. Anthony Peluso, summoned from Stockton earlier today, is projected to play.
The Flames have kept their opponents to less than 10 high-danger scoring chances in each of the past five games. They’ve won four in a row (and the game before that was an overtime loss). It’s easy to say, but the Flames just need to keep playing their game, keeping their defensive game tight, and wait for their opponents to make mistakes.
The top line of Gaudreau, Monahan and Lindholm are red-hot. The hope is the remaining forward units can start to get going, as well.
The Ducks
Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:
Silfverberg – Getzlaf – Eaves
Cogliano – Kesler – Sherwood
Rakell – Henrique – Aberg
Gibbons – Carrick – Street
Cogliano – Kesler – Sherwood
Rakell – Henrique – Aberg
Gibbons – Carrick – Street
Fowler – Welinski
Larsson – Lindholm
Pettersson – Montour
Larsson – Lindholm
Pettersson – Montour
Since John Gibson started (and lost) last night against the Los Angeles Kings, Ryan Miller suits up for the Ducks tonight. The Ducks scratched Chase de Leo, Luke Schenn and Isac Lundestrom last night, so at least one or two of them probably rotate in tonight.
The Ducks hosted the Kings last night and lost 4-1. So a rested Flames team gets to face a sub-.500 team that lost yesterday. There are no excuses for a flat start for the visitors.
The Numbers
CGY | ANA | |
Wins | 9 | 6 |
Points | 19 | 15 |
Corsi Close | 54.3% | 42.3% |
Power Play | 16.7% | 17.1% |
Penalty Kill | 72.0% | 81.1% |
Injury Report
The Flames are without Dillon Dube, who’s working through the concussion protocol.
The Ducks are without Josh Manson (upper body), Carter Rowney (undisclosed), Corey Perry (knee), Maxime Comtois (undisclosed), Ondrej Kase (concussion) and Nick Ritchie (upper body).
History Lesson
This is the first game of four this season between the Flames and Ducks. They don’t play again until February, though.
Know Thy Enemy
Your Ducks Twitter follows for tonight:
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