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Beyond the Boxscore: Flames get hemmed in, lose to Ducks 5-3

Photo credit: Brett Holmes-Imagn Images

By Flash Stevens

Nov 7, 2026, 11:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 7, 2026, 10:17 EST

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The Calgary Flames fought to preserve their early lead, but fell apart just before the buzzer losing 5-3 to the Anaheim Ducks.

CF% – 42.5% || SCF% – 41.07% || HDCF% – 38.07% || xGF% – 38.35%

It’s a Team Game – Positive off the hop – it was a rockin’ first period for the Flames as they came out and took control right away. Three goals in the first frame, some very gorgeous passing plays, and the crowd had reason to buy in early. High danger chances saw Calgary with a 6-3 advantage at 5v5 and it looked great. Then, the Ducks awoke, and caused nothing but problems for Calgary after that. The final 40 minutes saw the Flames trail 3-9 in 5v5 high danger chances. The game winning goal for the Ducks came off a rush with under 2 minutes to play, the lane across the ice remained wide open for Cutter Gauthier to rip an absolute laser by Dustin Wolf. Minutes away, yet farther than the score suggested. That would arguably be the worst 40 minute stretch Calgary’s played in the last month.

Corsi King – The 4th line was back to relevancy after a down game. William Stromgren (71.14%) went to the front of the net and earned himself another goal. If you do not want to go back to the AHL, continued production is always going to help. Personally I’d rather just keep playing Stromgren, a player who could have an impact on this team for the foreseeable future, than putting Maxim Tsyplakov back in. When Sam Honzek comes back someone has got to go, and with Stromgren potentially requiring waivers (if he’s up for 10 games or 30 days) I just don’t think it should be him.

Wild thought – Honzek has played so little the last two years due to injury. Maybe using his waiver exemption and getting him some extended looks with the Wranglers is the way to go when he’s healthy. You’ve got time, and he needs to get back to both playing and finding some success. 2 goals and 4 points in 27 games isn’t what I want from him, let him go cook – you have the luxury of time right now, use it.

Under Pressure –

Taken By Chance – Not a banner night for the Martin Pospisil (28.24 SCF% // 0 HDCF%) trio who seemingly spent all of their ice time in their own zone. I still think there’s going to be a give and take system with Pospisil in the middle of the ice, the Ducks and their aggressive play really did make life difficult. To be fair across the board though the entire top 9 and 4/6 defenceman really struggled all night. It was cool to see Joel Hanley (45.85% // 32.03%) come off the bench and score a goal though – the feel-good moment of the game for the Flames by far.

xG Breakdown –

xGF% – Zayne Parekh (51.34%) – he has to be discussed. Not only did he rack up two assists, and be out there for a 1-0 advantage in 5v5 goals, he was also everywhere on the ice tonight. There were highlight reel passes, subtle drop passes that always landed directly on his own guys tape, and he himself was open on the rush all night long. If he can learn anything right now I’d love for him to work on his catch and release because he is always open. If he can sharpen that skill he could see his goal total rise significantly. What a skill that is consistently on display – he clearly stands out when deployed, above not just most Flames but most players on the ice. It is clearly a matter of if, not when, he gets the pieces put together and starts his public ascension to national relevancy. I said draft him at 3 that year, no reason to change my mind so far.

Game Flow –

Shot Heatmap –

In The Crease – I thought Wolf was the second best Flame on the ice, and he wasn’t closer to third. The lackadaisical coverage he had to deal with in his own zone tonight was rough to watch. I had shouted “NO” before the pass to Gauthier because it was a pass so obviously wide open a horse could have majestically galloped through it. Wolf made multiple ten bell saves, keeping this as close as he possibly could. 2.46 expected goals against at 5v5 with 3 beating him, if they had scored a fourth I think Wolf would have been able to hold the fort through OT.

The Goals –