Anaheim Ducks vs. Calgary Flames: NHL Odds, Prediction
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Jeremy Perry
The Anaheim Ducks and Calgary Flames are fighting for their playoff lives in the Western Conference. However, the Ducks have won three straight and appear to be trending in the right direction while the Flames have now lost three straight and appear to be sinking. Will those trends continue on Wednesday night when the two teams meet up?
Ducks vs Flames Betting Analysis
Calgary has been outscored 16-6 over its last three games, including a 5-2 loss in Arizona that pretty much sealed their playoff fate. The Flames have actually been better on the road than at home this season, losing three of their last four at the Scotiabank Saddledome. On the year, they are 15-17-4 on home ice. Meanwhile, the Ducks have won three in a row overall but will need to be better as the visiting team on this road trip. Anaheim has lost each of its last three road games and is 15-14-7 as the visiting team this season.
Anaheim Ducks
John Gibson has been 11-3-1 in his last 15 starts, posting a sparkling 1.85 GAA and .940 save percentage in that span. The Ducks are a tough team to beat when he’s playing like that.
At the same time, the Ducks forwards are finally starting to get healthy and they are firing on all cylinders up front. Ryan Getzlaf has led the way over the past couple of weeks with nine points in his last eight games. Rickard Rakell has eight points over the same span. Anaheim has scored three goals or more in each of its last three wins. They are averaging 3.33 goals per game this month, which puts them 10th in the NHL. That’s fantastic. The way they are playing right now, they are capable of competing with anyone in the West.
Calgary Flames
The Flames continue to nosedive as they’ve lost three straight and eight of 11. They have allowed four goals or more in four of their last five games. Their struggles have left them on the outside looking into the playoff picture heading in to the final stretch.
Mike Smith has really struggled since returning from injury. Smith has just one win in five starts while registering a 3.68 goals-against average over that span. Meanwhile, Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan have done their best to keep the Flames playoff hopes alive but it hasn’t been enough. With Matthew Tkachuk sidelined with a concussion, the Flames absolutely need more from depth players like Michael Frolik and Troy Brouwer down the stretch. That likely won’t happen against the visiting Ducks on Wednesday night as Calgary’s losing streak continues on home ice.
