Preview: Calgary Flames vs Anaheim Ducks 2/17/20 (61/82): What Flames Team Will Show Up Today?

Calgary Flames vs Anaheim Ducks, 2:00 PM MT, Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary AB

TV: ESPN+, SNW – Radio: Sportsnet 960

Calgary Flames 30-24-6 (66 pts) – Anaheim Ducks 24-27-7 (55 Points)

NHL Standings

Where do we begin? The Flames destroyed the Ducks on Thursday night by the score of 6-0 and were riding high as the Chicago Blackhawks came to town on Saturday. Chicago quickly put the Flames in their place and we are left wondering: who the hell are the Calgary Flames? Are they the team that hung 18 goals combined on Vancouver, San Jose and Anaheim? The team that had a seven game winning streak? OR are they the team that dropped games to the pathetic LA Kings and lowly Chicago Blackhawks? The team that had a six game losing streak earlier this season?

It’s about time the Flames figured it out because there’s only 21 games left in the regular season and no one seems to want to commit to either the good Flames or the bad Flames. The problem becomes that the Pacific Division is such hot garbage that even playing this frustrating and uneven style of hockey, the Flames could still make the playoffs. Not that that is a given, but it’s not out of the question. Control of the division and WC changes daily and there isn’t much of a gap between any of the teams fighting for the playoffs. To compound things, David Rittich has fallen apart at home. He’s lost six in a row at the Saddledome and was a dumpster fire Saturday night against Chicago. Thirteen of the Flames final 21 games are at home, so he better figure it out sooner than later or it’s golf time before playoff time.

The Ducks took their 6-0 beating from Calgary and hit the road to Vancouver and took their frustrations out on the Canucks, defeating them 5-1. The Ducks won for just the second time in their last five games, scoring the most goals in a game since January 5th. Anaheim is 11 points out of the final WC spot and that’s a lot of ground to make up in a short amount of time. What the Ducks COULD end up doing is playing the role of spoiler the rest of the way. They’ve got eight games left with the Flames, Canucks, Oilers and Golden Knights before the season ends and there’s potential for some damage to be done.

Calgary took both meetings at the Saddledome last season, the first time they’ve been above .500 at home against Anaheim in the regular season since 2012.

Starting Goalies

Flames: Talbot (Expected) 8-9-1, 2.70 GAA, .919 SV%

Ducks: Miller (Expected) 7-5-3, 2.93 GAA, .909 SV%

Team Leaders

Flames – Goals: Lindholm (27), Points: Gaudreau (49), PIM: Tkachuk (65), Save%: Talbot (.919)

Ducks – Goals: Henrique (18), Points: Getzlaf (37), PIM: Gudbranson (91), Save%: Miller (.909)

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Anaheim Ducks Coverage: Anaheim Calling

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 4 – Chicago Blackhawks 8

Anaheim Ducks 5 – Vancouver Canucks 1

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames

Elias Lindholm: 10 points in last 10 games

Anaheim Ducks

Derek Grant (C): 4 points in last 5 games

by Mark Parkinson