Ducks at Flames
The Anaheim Ducks still are in the middle of the race for first place in their division despite a see-saw campaign and look to snap a three-game winless streak when they visit the Pacific-rival Calgary Flames on Thursday. The Ducks won five of seven contests before managing a total of only four goals losses to Montreal, Ottawa and San Jose, with the latter two coming in overtime.
Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle told reporters his team didn’t handle the puck with authority in the setback against first-place San Jose on Tuesday while failing to get second and third opportunities in front of the net. That must change against Calgary, which has totaled 10 goals in two consecutive victories and earned points in 10 of its last 13 games (9-3-1). The Flames rolled over struggling Colorado 6-3 on Tuesday as leading scorer Johnny Gaudreau registered a pair of goals and one assist. With Chad Johnson suddenly cooling off, veteran goaltender Brian Elliott has stepped back up to win three straight starts in which he has allowed a total of six tallies.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Anaheim), Sportsnet 360 (Calgary)
ABOUT THE DUCKS (17-12-7): Anaheim is 1-2-2 in its last five contests as its top scorers have struggled to produce. Leader Ryan Kesler (29 points) is mired in a nine-game goal-scoring drought, captain Ryan Getzlaf (24 assists) has been kept off the scoresheet in three straight, Corey Perry (27 points) has notched one point in six contests and Rickard Rakell (14 goals) has been blanked in four consecutive matches. Sami Vatanen (illness), who has recorded 15 points, is expected to miss his second consecutive game, prompting the team to recall fellow defenseman Brandon Montour.
ABOUT THE FLAMES (19-16-2): Veteran forward Troy Brouwer (hand) is questionable for the meeting with the Ducks after sitting out on Tuesday and Mikael Backlund left that game after blocking a shot with his right knee. “We just hope it’s a bruise and (Backlund) can carry forward,” coach Glen Gulutzan told reporters of the center, who has collected three goals and three assists in his last two contests. Gaudreau’s 25 points and Sean Monahan’s 10 goals lead the team while rookie Matthew Tkachuk has recorded a goal and four assists during his four-game point streak.
OVERTIME
1. Anaheim RW Jakob Silfverberg, who is slated to play his 300th NHL game on Thursday, has scored a goal in each of the last two.
2. Calgary has recorded a power-play goal in 10 of its last 11 contests.
3. The Ducks won eight straight against Calgary, including playoffs, before the Flames rolled to an 8-3 triumph on Dec. 4.