When the Calgary Flames (30-34-7, 67 points) began their current homestand, it would’ve been natural to expect some challenges along the way given the players they’ve traded away in the run-up to the trade deadline. But four games in, they’re undefeated. They’ll see if they can keep the good vibes going against the division-leading Anaheim Ducks (40-27-4, 84 points), who are on a streak of good play and good results of their own.

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

Projected lines via Daily Faceoff:

Blake Coleman – Mikael Backlund – Joel Farabee
Matvei Gridin – Morgan Frost – Matt Coronato
Yegor Sharangovich – Ryan Strome – Victor Olofsson
Martin Pospisil – John Beecher – Adam Klapka

Kevin Bahl – Zach Whitecloud
Olli Maatta – Hunter Brzustewicz
Joel Hanley – Zayne Parekh

Based on intel from our pal Pat Steinberg (of Sportsnet), we’re projecting Devin Cooley to start in net, backed up by Dustin Wolf. The projected healthy extras are Brayden Pachal, Ryan Lomberg and Tyson Gross.

The Flames have won four games in a row! Yeah, two of those games were scheduled wins against Florida and Tampa Bay after their visits to Edmonton, but wins are wins. The Flames are a group that’s obviously depleted in terms of their lineup, and their leading scorer since the Olympics has eight points – a three-way tie between Morgan Frost, Blake Coleman and Joel Farabee. But they’ve managed to stay in games and make life difficult for their opponents. Most of the time, at least.

Projected lines via Daily Faceoff:

Chris Kreider – Leo Carlsson – Troy Terry
Alex Killorn – Mikael Granlund – Beckett Sennecke
Jeffrey Viel – Ryan Poehling – Cutter Gauthier
Mason McTavish – Tim Washe – Jansen Harkins

Jackson Lacombe – Jacob Trouba
Pavel Mintyukov – John Carlson
Ian Moore – Radko Gudas

We’re projecting Lukas Dostal to start in net, backed up by Ville Husso. The projected extras are Frank Vatrano, Ross Johnston, Nathan Gaucher, Drew Helleson and Olen Zellweger.

In 15 games since the Olympic break, the Ducks have six players with 10 points or more: Leo Carlsson (16), Chris Kreider (16), Cutter Gauthier (13), Jackson Lacombe (13), Beckett Sennecke (11) and Alex Killorn (10). That’s sort of how things have been going: they’re not a dominant team and they arguably lack tippity-top stars, but man, they’ve got depth and as a result they’re a team that can beat you in a few different ways. They’re young, fast, talented, and basically what the Flames hope to be when they get to the other side of this whole process.

The Ducks currently lead the Pacific Division, sitting five points up on Edmonton. This is the second game of a three game road trip; they’ve already beaten Vancouver and they’ll face the Oilers on Saturday night. They’re 4-0-1 in their last four games.

The Flames are without Sam Honzek, Jake Bean, Jonathan Huberdeau, Yan Kuznetsov and Connor Zary.

The Ducks are without Petr Mrazek.

This is the third of four meetings between these teams this season. The Ducks won both of the first two games, both in extra time: a 4-3 overtime win in Calgary in January and a 3-2 shootout win in Anaheim three weeks ago. They’ll close things out next week in Anaheim.