Final
Ducks-Flames Preview
Mar 23, 2010 - 3:29 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior WriterAnaheim (34-29-8) at Calgary (36-27-9), 9:00 p.m. EDT
The Anaheim Ducks' current winning streak has kept their playoff hopes alive. In order to reach the postseason, however, they'll have to pass the Calgary Flames in the standings.
After a strong finish to an extended homestand, the Ducks look to match a season high with their fifth consecutive victory when they face the Flames on Tuesday night.
With three weeks remaining in the regular season, both Calgary and Anaheim have work to do to reach the postseason. The Flames (36-27-9) are ninth in the Western Conference, four points out of the eighth and final spot held by Detroit.
The Ducks (34-29-8) have a tougher hill to climb, sitting 11th in the West, nine points behind the Red Wings with 11 games left.
Anaheim, however, concluded a 4-2-1 homestand with its fourth straight victory, 5-2 over Colorado on Sunday. The Ducks, who've scored 18 goals during the winning streak, last won five straight from Jan. 5-13.
Teemu Selanne scored for the 21st time this season to become the 18th player in NHL history to reach 600 career goals. Playing in his 16th and possibly final season, the 39-year-old Selanne is the Ducks' all-time leader with 373 goals.
"He's a great guy," teammate Scott Niedermayer said. "There was an underlying feeling when you're on the ice with him. You want to at least give him the opportunity. He knows how to score goals."
Selanne has 36 career goals against Calgary, but none in his last five games versus the Flames.
Anaheim won its first two games against Calgary this season before falling 3-1 on the road on Feb. 13. The Ducks have been outscored 34-21 while losing nine of 11 in Calgary.
Bobby Ryan has two of his team-leading 31 goals this season against the Flames. He could be back in the Ducks' lineup after missing Sunday's game with flu-like symptoms.
Anaheim's Jonas Hiller has won three of his last four starts, but he's 1-1-0 with a 3.56 goals-against average versus Calgary this season.
The Flames return home looking to bounce back from a 4-3 loss at Minnesota on Sunday. Eric Nystrom had a goal and Matt Stajan added a pair of assists, but Calgary lost for the third time in five games.
"You just get focused (on the next game)," defenseman Cory Sarich told the Flames' official Web site. "What's in the past is in the past and that's how you have to approach it. If you dwell on what has gone on, especially the negative stuff, you'll never get anything accomplished going forward."
Jarome Iginla scored twice and Nystrom added a goal last month against Anaheim. Iginla has a team-leading 32 goals and 34 assists, but he's been limited to one of each over his last six contests.
The Flames will be without third-leading scorer Daymond Langkow, who was taken off on a stretcher Sunday after he was checked to the ice and then hit on the base of the neck with the puck. After spending the night in a St. Paul hospital, Langkow flew back to Calgary on Monday and is out indefinitely.
"It's scary, especially when it's a teammate and a guy you're close with," Sarich said. "It's freaky and really scary, but (we're) just glad to hear he's doing well and that's the main thing."
Miikka Kiprusoff could be back in net after replacing Vesa Toskala, who allowed three goals on 12 shots Sunday. Kiprusoff is 1-0-1 with a 1.44 GAA versus Anaheim this season.
- -------------------------------------------
Anaheim
0 1 0 --1
Calgary 1 1 1 --3
-------------------------------------------
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Calgary, Nigel Dawes 12 (power play)
(Steve Staios, Jay Bouwmeester), 15:11. Penalties: B Festerling, Ana
(major fighting), 2:00; B Sutter, Cgy (major fighting), 2:00; A Ward,
Ana (high-sticking), 7:36; S Eminger,
Mar 23 11:24 PM - -------------------------------------------
Anaheim
0 1 0 --1
Calgary 1 1 1 --3
-------------------------------------------
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Calgary, Nigel Dawes 12 (power play)
(Steve Staios, Jay Bouwmeester), 15:11. Penalties: B Festerling, Ana
(major fighting), 2:00; B Sutter, Cgy (major fighting), 2:00; A Ward,
Ana (high-sticking), 7:36; S Eminger,
Mar 23 11:24 PM - --------------------------------------
Anaheim
0 1 --1
Calgary 1 1 --2
--------------------------------------
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Calgary, Nigel Dawes 12 (power play)
(Steve Staios, Jay Bouwmeester), 15:11. Penalties: B Festerling, Ana
(major fighting), 2:00; B Sutter, Cgy (major fighting), 2:00; A Ward,
Ana (high-sticking), 7:36; S Eminger, Ana (holding), 15:0
Mar 23 10:31 PM - ---------------------------------
Anaheim
0 --0
Calgary 1 --1
---------------------------------
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Calgary, Nigel Dawes 12 (power play)
(Steve Staios, Jay Bouwmeester), 15:11. Penalties: B Festerling, Ana
(major fighting), 2:00; B Sutter, Cgy (major fighting), 2:00; A Ward,
Ana (high-sticking), 7:36; S Eminger, Ana (holding), 15:04.
Shots on goal:
-
Mar 23 9:43 PM
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