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Preview: Calgary Flames @ Anaheim Ducks 10/20/19 (10/82): The Flames Have To Overcome A Lot To Win In Anaheim

It’s not going to be an easy game for a multitude of reasons.

NHL: Calgary Flames at Anaheim Ducks Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Calgary Flames @ Anaheim Ducks, 7 PM MT, Honda Center, Anaheim CA

TV: SN360 - Radio: Sportsnet 960

Calgary Flames 4-4-1 (9 pts) - Anaheim Ducks 6-2-0 (12 pts)

NHL Standings

There’s no rest for the Flames as they head to Anaheim for the second night of a back to back. Calgary just had their two game winning streak come to a crashing halt in LA with a 4-1 loss to the LA Kings Saturday night. The Flames and Kings went at it all night long, but as has been the case so far this season the Flames took the most penalties. On the year Calgary leads the NHL in penalties with 47 and they lead the league with an average of 12:53 PIM a game. As if the penalty box isn’t a big enough issue Calgary’s PP isn’t helping them either. The Flames currently sit at 22nd in the league with the extra skater, scoring an abysmal 15.6% of the time. Also not helping, the Flames top line players NOT named Elias Lindholm. Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan have combined for four points over their last five games with Gaudreau only collecting one of those points.

The Ducks have to be one of the league’s surprising teams this season. Anaheim is 6-2-0 and sitting in second place in the Pacific and 3rd overall in the West. Anaheim has won three of their last four and have outscored their opponents in their three wins 11-5. John Gibson has been a very large part of Anaheim’s success. The Ducks are tops in the league allowing only 1.41 goals per game and Gibson is in the top 10 in all major goaltending categories. The Ducks are also one of the better defensive teams, allowing the opposition a lowly average of 29.5 shots per game.

Back to back games are never easy and a back to back in California is a recipe for disaster. Calgary got slapped around by the Kings on Saturday and we’re not sure if you know, but Calgary isn’t exactly going into Anaheim and taking care of business. The Flames have only won 10 times in 62 trips to the Ducks home rink and are 2-34 in their last 36 skates in Anaheim. Want more depressing stats? The Flames lost their only back to back games this season to Vegas and San Jose by a combined score of 9-3.

Starting Goalies (E=Expected, C=Confirmed)

Flames: Talbot (E)- 0-1-0, 2.34 GAA, .893 Save%

Ducks: Gibson (E)- 4-2-0, 1.85 GAA, .941 Save%

Team Leaders

Flames: Goals: Gaudreau (5) Points: Gaudreau (7) PIM: Lucic (26) Save%: Rittich (.912)

Ducks: Goals: Henrique (5) Points: Silfverberg (7) PIM: Manson (13) Save%: Gibson (.941)

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Anaheim Ducks Coverage: Anaheim Calling

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 1 - LA Kings 4

Anaheim Ducks 4 - Carolina Hurricanes 2

Players To Watch

NHL: Calgary Flames at Los Angeles Kings Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Flames: Elias Lindholm (C): 3 points in last 4 games

NHL: Buffalo Sabres at Anaheim Ducks Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Ducks: Rickard Rakell (C): 6 points in last 4 games