When: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., Scotiabank Saddledome Read More
Anaheim Ducks (33-33-8) at Calgary Flames (35-27-12) When: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., Scotiabank Saddledome TV: Sportsnet One Radio: Sportsnet 960 The Fan Odds: Flames -173, Ducks +145 The buzz The Anaheim Ducks aren’t a gimme on the schedule. They’re better than that. Still, though, if you can’t beat a team like the Ducks that has nothing to play for when
Article content
Anaheim Ducks (33-33-8) at Calgary Flames (35-27-12)
Article content
Article content
When: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., Scotiabank Saddledome
Article content
TV: Sportsnet One Radio: Sportsnet 960 The Fan
Article content
Odds: Flames -173, Ducks +145
Article content
The buzz
Article content
The Anaheim Ducks aren’t a gimme on the schedule. They’re better than that.
Article content
Still, though, if you can’t beat a team like the Ducks that has nothing to play for when your team is in do-or-die mode in the Western Conference wild-card chase, you’re probably not making the playoffs.
Article content
Story continues below
Article content
With two games against the Ducks between now and the end of the regular season, the Flames’ ability to avoid playing to the level of their opposition could be a big factor in whether they can pull off the unlikely feat of scoring a post-season dance.
Article content
Noon News Roundup
Article content
The good news is they’ve beaten the Ducks twice this season, so the Flames have every reason to feel confident.
Article content
But despite being out of playoff contention, the Ducks haven’t just packed it in for the season. They’re 5-4-1 in their past 10 games and, despite everything, they’re only eight points back of the Flames in the standings.
Article content
When you consider that the teams that Flames are trying to chase for a wild-card spot, the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues, are seven points ahead of them currently, it sort of puts in perspective that the Ducks shouldn’t be considered rollovers.
Article content
Quote to note
Article content
Check back after morning skate
Article content
Three need-to-knows
Article content
- The Flames signed 19-year-old winger Aydar Suniev on Wednesday after he completed his time playing for the UMass Minutemen. He scored 20 goals in the NCAA this season and the 2023 third-round pick will be joining the Flames for the remainder of the campaign, although that doesn’t mean he’s expected to be in the lineup.
- The Ducks are on pace for 82 points this season, which is a 23-point increase over their 59-point total last season. That’s on pace to be the second largest increase in the NHL this year, behind only the Winnipeg Jets — who went from 91 points last season to an expected 116 points this year.
- Rasmus Andersson scored his 11th goal against the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday, tying a career high. It’s the third-most goals among Swedish blueliners in the NHL this season, behind Victor Hedman (14) and Rasmus Dahlin (14).
Article content
Flames’ projected lineup
Article content
Forwards
Article content
Sharangovich-Kadri-Pospisil
Article content
Huberdeau-Frost-Coronato
Article content
Farabee-Backlund-Coleman
Article content
Lomberg-Rooney-Klapka
Article content
Defence
Article content
Bahl-Andersson
Article content
Hanley-Weegar
Article content
Bean-Pachal
Article content
Goalies
Article content
Article content
Vladar
Article content