Ducks at Flames
THE STORY: Pardon the pun but the Calgary Flames have been scorching hot at home. More to the point, coach Brent Sutter's charges have collected 19 of a possible 20 points (9-0-1) in their last 10 games at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary will vie for its first eight-game home winning streak in nearly five years when it hosts the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday. "I can’t really pinpoint exactly what it is,” Sutter said of his team's pronounced run at home. “There’s nothing wrong with being homers, but, again, it’s just something we feel confident about, feel good about and it’s the way we play ... very poised and under control.” Fueling the Flames' fire has been their potent power play. Calgary has connected on seven of its last 30 opportunities with the man advantage. The prospects of the Flames extending their winning streak look good, considering that Anaheim has posted just three road victories in 18 contests this season (3-10-5). The Ducks, however, have won three in a row overall and claimed all four decisions last season between the clubs.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, FSPT, RSW
ABOUT THE DUCKS (13-22-6): Leading Anaheim's recent surge has been veteran Saku Koivu, who notched his second career hat trick in Tuesday's 5-2 triumph over the Dallas Stars. Playing in his 1,300th NHL game, Teemu Selanne elected to bypass an easy goal and fed his countryman instead. Koivu buried the empty-netter to cap the hat trick. G Jeff Deslauriers made his first start with Anaheim and turned aside 26 shots. Deslauriers may be between the pipes on Thursday as Jonas Hiller nurses a nagging lower body injury.
ABOUT THE FLAMES (20-19-5): Calgary extended its home run of dominance by jumping out to an early four-goal lead in the first period on Tuesday en route to a 6-3 triumph over the New Jersey Devils. Curtis Glencross scored a goal and set up three others to record his first career four-point effort. Glencross, who leads the team with 18 goals, has recorded 10 points in 12 career games versus the Ducks. Captain Jarome Iginla notched his 10th career Gordie Howe hat trick and Lee Stempniak also scored while playing in his 500th career game on Tuesday.
OVERTIME:
1. Ducks LW Jean-Francois Jacques was suspended three games by the NHL for his hit on R.J. Umberger of the Blue Jackets on Sunday.
2. Flames D Mark Giordano may return to the ice on Thursday after being sidelined from Nov. 29 with a partially torn leg tendon.