Ducks 1, Flames 0
CALGARY, Alberta -- Goaltender John Gibson was forced to make just 14 saves to backstop the Anaheim Ducks to a 1-0 win over the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday.
Center Shawn Horcoff scored the lone goal of the game for the Ducks (14-15-6), who have won two straight games and have gone 3-1-1 in their past five to get back into playoff contention in the NHL's Western Conference.
Making his seventh straight start in net for the Flames (17-17-6), goalie Karri Ramo stopped 20 of 21 shots he faced to keep Calgary in the game.
Coming into the game, the Flames won two in a row, including a 5-3 decision over the Edmonton Oilers at the Saddledome, which was their 11th straight win on home ice to set a franchise record.
Ramo had to be sharp in the game's first minute as he made a pad save to stop a backhand shot from in close by Ducks left winger Carl Hagelin.
Left winger Johnny Gaudreau had the first good chance of the game for the Flames three minutes into the first, but Gibson stood his ground to stop a wrist shot labelled for the top corner.
Anaheim center Ryan Kesler then had a great chance to get the Ducks on the board when he intercepted a pass by Flames defenseman Mark Giordano right in front of the Calgary net, but Ramo made another nice pad save to deny the scoring attempt.
After outshooting the Flames 6-4 in the opening frame, the Ducks increased that margin to 11-3 in the second period and were rewarded when Horcoff opened the scoring at 12:36 when he one-timed a pass from center Rickard Rakell past Ramo.
Forward Sam Bennett had a great chance to pull the Flames even just past the mid-way mark of the third period, but his wrist shot glanced off the crossbar behind Gibson and out of play. Bennett had another chance later in the third, but Gibson stopped the shot from a bad angle before falling on the puck before it crossed the goal line.
NOTES: Looking to add more size against the Ducks, Flames coach Bob Hartley inserted LW Brandon Bollig into the lineup on Tuesday in place of LW Mason Raymond. ... Calgary's other scratches were C Josh Jooris and D Ladislav Smid. ... Ducks D Cam Fowler was placed on injured reserve on Monday a day after spraining his right knee during the first period of Anaheim's 4-2 win at home over the Philadelphia Flyers. ... Also on Monday, the Ducks recalled D Shea Theodore from the AHL's San Diego Gulls. Theodore made his NHL debut against the Flames. ... Anaheim's scratches were RW Chris Stewart and D Korbinian Holzer. ... The Flames will finish up their four-game homestand with a tough test against the Pacific Division-leading L.A. Kings on New Year's Eve. ... The Ducks will continue their road trip through western Canada with games against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday and the Vancouver Canucks the next night.