Playoff FGD: Flames vs. Ducks, Game 3

After just two playoff games, it’s hard to imagine that Game 3 between the Calgary Flames and the Anaheim Ducks is a must-win for the Flames. But given the Flames’ lack of success at the Honda Center in Anaheim, a win in Game 3 tonight is tremendously important to keep the Flames’ hopes of a series win alive. A loss drops them to 3-0. A win bumps them to 2-1. It’s a big, big game for both teams. It might not be “must-win,” but it’s pretty damn close to being in that category.

The puck drops at 8 p.m. MT on CBC (with Rick Ball and John Garrett) and Sportsnet 960 The Fan (with Derek Wills and Peter Loubardias). If you’re heading down to the game, weather-permitting the Flames are hosting a tailgate party starting at 5 p.m. on the west (C-Train) side of the rink.

Lines via Daily Faceoff:

Most likely there won’t be any lineup changes for the Flames.

Brian Elliott starts. He was superb in Game 1 when the team wasn’t, but he’s probably on the hook for two of the three Anaheim goals in Game 2 – notably the Jakub Silfverberg wrister and the Rickard Rakell wrap-around. Both were goals he seemingly was caught unaware on. He’ll need to be better for the Flames to have a chance tonight.

The Flames have been pretty good in their two games in Anaheim, but struggled to score that proverbial “next goal” – the goal that would break the back of their opposition and/or give their side some much needed breathing room. They need to stay out of the box, play at even strength the way they have been (for the most part), and try to bury the chances they do get. Expect yet another tight checking, one goal game.

Lines via Daily Faceoff:

No changes are expected for the Ducks.

John Gibson starts. He was shaky in Game 1 (but was very good in that third period) and was generally really good in Game 2. The Flames need to get traffic in front of him and make his life difficult if they want to succeed.

Sami Vatanen was a late scratch in Game 2. He traveled with the team and is being reevaluated, but is likely a no-go for tonight. (We’ll see if he takes warm-up.) Ondrej Kase was recalled from the AHL’s San Diego Gulls yesterday and will serve as an extra body for the next couple games. Aside from those notes, nothing substantial to report on the Ducks side.

Some Ducks follows for tonight’s contest:

The Flames have played two good games, mostly. But they’ve lost twice. They need to find a way to convert good efforts into victories, and fast, otherwise they’ll be finding their way to the golf course before too long.