Preview: Calgary Flames vs Anaheim Ducks 3/29/19 (78/82): Flames Take On Ducks Team Playing Out String

Calgary Flames vs Anaheim Ducks, 7 PM MT, Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary AB

TV: SNW – Radio: Sportsnet 960

X- Calgary Flames 47-23-7 (101 pts) – Anaheim Ducks 32-36-10 (74 pts)

NHL Standings

What’s really left to say at this point? Calgary is waiting for the playoffs to start and Anaheim is waiitng for the season to end. That’s pretty much the script of this Friday night tilt as the Flames “welcome” the Anaheim Ducks to the Saddledome.

Calgary has dropped two straight and yes, it’s not good to lose, but does it matter at this point? Bill Peters shuffled his lines to try and create a spark against the Dallas Stars and as usual, nothing worked against Dallas and the Flames fell 2-1 Wednesday night. Even with this two game skid the Flames are still comfortably up six points on second place San Jose with only four games left after this one, including a meeting with the Sharks on Sunday night.

Anaheim is toast. They sit in 14th place in the West, just ahead of bottom dwelling LA as their season mercifully comes to an end. The Ducks have won five of their last eight, which is all well and good, but it’s also like putting lipstick on a pig. The Ducks are 15-22-2 on the road and the only reason they are even half as good as they are has been the play of John Gibson. Despite being on one of the worst teams in the league, he has a very respectable .915 Save%.

The Flames and Ducks have met twice this season with each team winning one time so far. Calgary took the last meeting 2-1 back on February 22nd at the Saddledome, but Calgary has dropped seven out of their last ten on home ice against Anaheim. But who cares? The Flames have punched their post season ticket. Anaheim will be watching from home.

Starting Goaltenders (E=Expected, C=Confirmed)

Flames: Rittich (E)- 26-8-5, 2.62 GAA, .911 Save%

Ducks: Gibson (E)- 24-22-8, 2.89 GAA, .915 Save%

Team Leaders

Flames: Goals- Gaudreau (35), Points- Gaudreau (93), PIM- Bennett (91), Save%- Rittich (.911)

Ducks: Goals- Silfverberg (23), Points- Getzlaf (47), PIM- Ritchie (62), Save%- Gibson (.915)

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Anaheim Ducks Coverage: Anaheim Calling

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 1 – Dallas Stars 2

Anaheim Ducks 5 – Vancouver Canucks 4

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames

Johnny Gaudreau (F): 35G – 58A, 2 points in last 5 games

Anaheim Ducks

Jakob Silfverberg (F): 23G – 15A, 5 points in last 5 games

by Mark Parkinson