FGD 59: Going to Disneyland (8pm MT, SN West)
By Ryan Pike
4 years agoAfter a disappointing loss 24 hours prior in Los Angeles, the Calgary Flames (29-23-6, 64 points) try to finish off their road trip with a good effort when they visit the Anaheim Ducks (23-26-7, 53 points). The Flames have won two of their three games on the road trip and desperately need a win to stay in the thick of the playoff pack.
The puck drops just after 8 p.m. MT on Sportsnet West and Sportsnet 960 The Fan.
The Flames
Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:
Mangiapane – Backlund – Tkachuk
Gaudreau – Monahan – Lindholm
Lucic – Ryan – Dube
Bennett – Jankowski – Rinaldo
Gaudreau – Monahan – Lindholm
Lucic – Ryan – Dube
Bennett – Jankowski – Rinaldo
Hanifin – Andersson
Brodie – Stone
Kylington – Davidson
Brodie – Stone
Kylington – Davidson
Cam Talbot starts for the Flames, backed up by David Rittich. The extras are Alexander Yelesin, Tobias Rieder and Buddy Robinson. Sam Bennett and Brandon Davidson rotate back in.
The Flames were their Vintage 2019-20 selves against the Kings. They had no answer for the Kings’ 1-3-1 neutral zone scheme, constantly turned the puck over, and constantly saw turnovers turn into good scoring chances for the opposition. They need to do what they can do adapt and/or disrupt, something they just couldn’t do against the Kings.
The Ducks
Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:
Shore – Getzlaf – Rakell
Jones – Steel – Silfverberg
Ritchie – Henrique – Terry
Deslauriers – Grant – Rowney
Jones – Steel – Silfverberg
Ritchie – Henrique – Terry
Deslauriers – Grant – Rowney
Lindholm – Manson
Fowler – del Zotto
Guhle – Holzer
Fowler – del Zotto
Guhle – Holzer
John Gibson starts for the Ducks, backed up by Ryan Miller. Jacob Larsson is their healthy extra, while Ondrej Kase could return from his illness tonight.
The Ducks are a team near the bottom of the standings. They’re not great this season. They’re missing several key players. They’re likely just hoping to get this season over with so they can look to their future, integrating more of their promising players from their AHL club in San Diego.
This is a game the Flames need to have (especially after yesterday’s loss).
The Numbers
| Flames | Ducks | |
| Wins | 29 | 23 |
| Points | 64 | 53 |
| Adjusted Corsi | 49.7% | 48.5% |
| Power Play | 21.0% | 14.4% |
| Penalty Kill | 81.2% | 77.3% |
Injury Report
The Flames are without D Juuso Valimaki (ACL surgery), D Mark Giordano (hamstring) and D Travis Hamonic (upper body).
The Ducks are missing D Erik Gudbranson (upper body), F Ondrej Kase (illness), F Patrick Eaves (undisclosed) and F Ryan Kesler (hip).
When Last We Met
This is the second of four games between the Flames and Ducks this season – the Flames won 2-1 in Anaheim back in October. They’ll face twice more in Calgary; once next week, and again in late March
Know Thy Enemy
Here are some key Twitter peeps to follow for tonight:
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