With just eight games remaining on the schedule, the Calgary Flames (35-27-12, 82 points) remain alive in the Western Conference’s playoff race! But they need to win a lot and get some help to keep playing past Apr. 17. That starts with Thursday’s visit from the Anaheim Ducks (33-33-8, 74 points), a team that seems perfectly happy to play spoiler for as many teams as they can down the stretch. Can the Flames bounce back from a loss on Tuesday in Utah and get back into the win column?

Today’s broadcast begins at 7:30 p.m. MT on Sportsnet One and Sportsnet 960 The Fan.

Projected lines via Daily Faceoff:

Yegor Sharangovich – Nazem Kadri – Martin Pospisil
Jonathan Huberdeau – Morgan Frost – Matt Coronato
Joel Farabee – Mikael Backlund – Blake Coleman
Ryan Lomberg – Kevin Rooney – Adam Klapka

Kevin Bahl – Rasmus Andersson
Joel Hanley – MacKenzie Weegar
Jake Bean – Brayden Pachal

We’re projecting Dustin Wolf to start in net, backed up by Dan Vladar. The projected extras look to be Daniil Miromanov, Dryden Hunt and Aydar Suniev. The Flames had a travel day on Wednesday and are still alive in the playoff hunt, so we strongly doubt Suniev gets into a game until he has a bit of practice time with the group. Or the Flames get mathematically eliminated from the post-season.

The Flames have played pretty well lately, but they simply didn’t have enough in the tank against Utah on Tuesday night. They know how they need to play in order to be successful and their defensive game is pretty solid, but they simply need to get another goal or two in order to win these last eight games down the stretch and have a chance at inching over the playoff cutline. Their margin for error is essentially gone at this point: they simply need to win games.

The Flames begin Thursday’s games seven points back of both St. Louis and Minnesota for the two Western Conference wild card spots. They have two games in hand on both teams, but they have their work cut out for them. They need to handle their business, and then get a decent amount of help.

Projected lines via Daily Faceoff:

Frank Vatrano – Ryan Strome – Troy Terry
Cutter Gauthier – Leo Carlsson – Alex Killorn
Trevor Zegras – Mason McTavish – Sam Colangelo
Nikita Nesterenko – Isac Lundestrom – Jansen Harkins

Jackson Lacombe – Radko Gudas
Olen Zellweger – Jacob Trouba
Pavel Mintyukov – Drew Helleson

We’re projecting John Gibson to start in net, backed up by Lukas Dostal. The projected extras are Brett Leason and Oliver Kylington.

Give the Ducks some credit: they’re 5-4-1 over their last 10 games. They’re not going to make the playoffs, but they’re a group that has a fun mix of youth and experience, and they’re playing a fast, fun style of hockey. They aren’t burdened with expectations this season, so they can just play and do their thing. They’re probably a year or two away from pushing for a post-season spot, but you can see the general shape of things and see what they’re going for.

The Flames are without Anthony Mantha, Justin Kirkland and Connor Zary.

The Ducks are without Brock McGinn, Robby Fabbri and Ross Johnston.

This is the third of four games between the Flames and Ducks this season. The Flames beat Anaheim twice already. They face each other one more time next week in Anaheim to close out the season series.