Anaheim Ducks vs. Calgary Flames: Odds, Prediction
Essentially half of the 2017-18 regular-season schedule has been played to this point, yet the Anaheim Ducks haven’t visited Pacific Division rival Calgary until this point. That changes Saturday night as the Flames wrap up a three-game homestand.
Ducks vs Flames Betting Analysis
This is the third of four meetings, with Anaheim returning to the Saddledome on March 21.
Last year in Calgary, the Ducks were 2-1, getting blown out 8-3 and winning 3-1 and 4-3. Of course, Anaheim’s last visit was Game 4 of last year’s conference quarterfinals, a 3-1 victory that completed a sweep of the Flames. That was the only game of the series decided by more than one goal.
The Flames and Ducks have split two games in Anaheim this season. On Oct. 9, Anaheim was a -125 favourite and lost 2-0. Mike Smith had 43 saves as Calgary snapped its epic 25-game losing streak at the Honda Center, dating to Jan. 19, 2004. Sean Monahan (power play) and Mikael Backlund had the Calgary goals.
Last Friday, the Ducks were -140 and won 2-1. Rickard Rakell had the game-winning power-play goal at 2:17 of the third. John Gibson made 22 saves. Smith had 39 stops and Micheal Ferland the lone Calgary goal. That was the 1,732nd game played by Jaromir Jagr, moving him sole possession of third place on the NHL’s career list. Next on the list is Mark Messier at 1,756.
The Ducks have won their past four in Calgary overall. The total has gone over in nine of the past 12 there.
Anaheim Ducks
This is the final game for the Ducks (19-14-9) before their mandated bye week, which comes at an opportune time as it breaks up a five-game road trip. They are 1-1 on the trip, winning 5-0 in Vancouver on Tuesday behind Ryan Miller but losing 2-1 in a shootout in Edmonton on Thursday with Gibson in net. Ryan Kesler – who has played only five games due to offseason hip surgery — scored his first goal of the season for the Ducks, who had their three-game winning streak snapped. Gibson made 33 saves. The Ducks are a good defensive team in ranking seventh in goals against and ninth on the penalty kill, but they aren’t strong on offence in ranking 23rd in scoring and 21st on the power play. Rakell (15G, 16A) is the only player with more than 23 points.
Calgary Flames
The past four times Calgary (20-16-4) has had a two-game winning streak, it hasn’t been able to win a third. That’s where the Flames are here as they beat visiting Chicago 4-3 in overtime on Sunday and then the visiting Kings 4-3 in regulation on Thursday. Smith made 28 saves vs. L.A. to win back-to-back starts for the first time since November. Calgary scored all four goals in the second period. Ferland was the No. 1 star with a goal and assist. Sean Monahan also had a goal and helper, while Johnny Gaudreau added two assists. Struggling Jagr was a healthy scratch. The Flames are now .500 (11-11-0) at home.
