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Flames visit Ducks aiming to streak into break

Jan 21, 2015 - 3:45 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Calgary Flames will try to enter the All-Star break with their longest winning streak of the season when they visit the NHL- leading Anaheim Ducks for Wednesday's clash at Honda Center.

The Flames have matched a season high with wins in four straight games, marking the third time the surprising club has posted four victories in a row in 2014-15.

Calgary, which last won five consecutive tilts from Jan. 22-Feb. 1, also can complete a perfect five-game homestand tonight before beginning a six-game stay at the Saddledome on Tuesday against Buffalo.

The Flames' two most recent wins have come in overtime, including Monday's triumph over the reigning Stanley Cup champions.

Calgary downed the Los Angeles Kings, 2-1, thanks to Dennis Wideman's game- winning goal in the final minute of the extra session, although the Flames didn't immediately know they won.

Wideman fired a shot on net from the left circle that appeared to hit the crossbar and come out the other side. However, when play was stopped and the refs got a chance to review, it was determined that the puck hit the camera in the back of the net and came out, and Wideman was credited with his 12th goal of the season for the win.

"When I shot it, I thought it was in," said Wideman. "They came at us hard, they're a big team that knows how to win. I thought we did a good job of limiting grade-A scoring chances."

Sean Monahan had the other goal for Calgary, tying the contest at 1-1 with 6:05 left in the third period. Joni Ortio made 33 saves for the Flames, who have won five straight on the road and are 14-9-1 as the visiting team this season.

The win moved the Flames one point in front of the Kings for the last wild card spot in the Western Conference.

Like Calgary, the Ducks also enter their final game before the All-Star break on a four-game winning streak and Anaheim also boasts a 6-1-0 record in January.

The recent hot stretch is just part of what has been a phenomenal regular season so far for the Ducks. Anaheim is leading the Pacific Division by 11 points over second-place Vancouver and is one ahead of Nashville for the most points in the NHL with 66.

Anaheim's most recent win also came against the Kings. The Ducks recorded a 3-2 win Saturday in L.A. with Jakob Silfverberg scoring the only goal in the shootout.

Silfverberg was Anaheim's second shooter in the final phase and snapped a low shot past Jonathan Quick on the blocker side. The winger is 7-for-11 this season in shootouts.

"I wanted to switch it up a little bit," said Silfverberg about his shootout attempt. "I was going glove side a lot (recently)."

Frederik Andersen then stopped Marian Gaborik's backhand attempt to give Anaheim the extra point. Andersen also turned aside Jeff Carter and Anze Kopitar earlier in the shootout and finished the contest with 26 saves.

Sami Vatanen scored the tying goal in the third period for the Ducks.

The Ducks are 7-4 in shootouts and improved to 22-0-6 in games decided by one goal. They also are the only team in the league without a regulation one-goal loss.

Anaheim will emerge from the All-Star break next Tuesday when it visits the Vancouver Canucks. The Ducks are 17-5-3 as the host this season.

The Ducks are 4-1-1 in the last six meetings with Calgary and tonight's test marks the third of five encounters in 2014-15. Anaheim recorded a 3-2 regulation win over the visiting Flames on Nov. 25, one week after Calgary posted a 4-3 shootout victory over the Ducks on home ice.