The Calgary Flames (24-178-7) remain home for a Thursday night matchup with the Anaheim Ducks (21-23-6).
Tonight is the second meeting between the two clubs, with the last one serving as a pivotal moment in the Flames’ season. Not only did they pull out a 3-2 win, but they lost forward Connor Zary to a lower-body injury after a knee-on-knee hit.
The Flames have been 6-4-0 in their last ten games, losing 3-1 to the Washington Capitals on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Ducks come into the contest 4-5-1, riding a three-win streak, most recently defeating the Seattle Kraken 6-4.
Between the Pipes
Dustin Wolf is slated to start his eighth game since defeating the Ducks 3-2 on Jan. 7. As one of the NHL’s best goalies on home ice, thanks to a 12-3-1 record, the rookie netminder will look to halt the Flame’s two-game losing streak.
In two previous starts against Anaheim, Wolf is a perfect 2-0-0 with only five goalies against, a .900 SV%, and a 2.47 GAA.
The visitors have tapped John Gibson to start. Since winning his 200th game on Jan. 5, he’s just 1-3-1 in the past seven games. But in the last two appearances, he’s given up just two goals in 79 minutes of action with a .952 SV%.
In 21 career games against the Flames, Gibson has compiled an 11-8-2 record with two shutouts, a 2.56 GAA, and .915 SV%.
Conversation Starters
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Tyson Barrie had an immediate impact in his return to the lineup, picking up an assist and ringing a possible game-tying goal off the crossbar. What could the veteran have in store for a team with a goal differential of minus-28?
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It’s no secret that the Flames have trouble scoring (130 goals) with the NHL’s 31st-ranked offense. Considering the Ducks are the only team below them (127 goals), one of these trends will break tonight at the Saddledome, but which one will it be?
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In his last three games against Anaheim, MacKenzie Weegar has scored at least two points, including a goal and an assist in this season’s previous meeting. Considering Team Canada is watching him every night, will he be able to keep up his current streak?
Where Are They Now?
Flames & Ducks Leaders
Per the Flames staff at NHL.com, here’s a breakdown of tonight’s lineup. (Subject to change)
FORWARDS
Jonathan Huberdeau — Nazem Kadri — Jakob Pelletier
Blake Coleman — Mikael Backlund — Matt Coronato
Martin Pospisil — Yegor Sharangovich — Andrei Kuzmenko
Ryan Lomberg — Clark Bishop — Adam Klapka
DEFENCE
Joel Hanley — Rasmus Andersson
Jake Bean — Mackenzie Weegar
Tyson Barrie — Brayden Pachal
GOALIES
SCRATCHES
Kevin Rooney, Daniil Miromanov
Tonight’s game starts at 7:00 p.m. MT and is available on KCOP-13, Victory+, SNW, and Sportsnet+.
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