The Calgary Flames have essentially no room for error to keep their playoff hopes alive as they play host to the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday.
The Flames (35-27-12, 82 points) are seven points outside a playoff spot in the Western Conference chase, and after a 3-1 road loss to the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday, they need help and to rack up a bunch of victories to punch their ticket.
“Now it’s a challenge for us to make sure that we go home and we play our best hockey of the year,” coach Ryan Huska said. “So we have to find a way to win our games at home, and that’s going to be a crucial thing for us moving forward.”
Through Wednesday’s action, the Flames trail the Minnesota Wild for the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot. Calgary has eight games remaining in the regular season, two more than the Wild.
The loss to Utah was especially wrenching. Calgary had a goal overturned when video review ruled the puck had not crossed the line, and despite a frantic third-period push was unable to tie the clash. The Flames dropped all three meetings with Utah this season.
“We were pushing and pushing, their goalie made some big saves,” said defenseman Rasmus Andersson, Calgary’s lone goal scorer. “This one (hurts). I thought we did enough to at least get it to 2-2. We just couldn’t get that tying goal.”
Now the Flames must regroup for a final push with the hopes every game will matter.
“You can’t dwell on it,” forward Joel Farabee said. “Just got to focus on tomorrow, that’s all you can really do.”
The Ducks, who are playing out the string and will miss the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season, arrive in Calgary on something of a high.
Anaheim (33-33-8, 74 points) ended a five-game homestand with a 4-3 shootout win over the Sharks on Tuesday. The Ducks surrendered a two-goal lead in the third period, but recovered to win their third game in four outings.
“The goal we set as a team is to have a winning record this season,” forward Trevor Zegras said. “Just kind of compared to where we were the last couple seasons, I think that’s a pretty good goal and something we’re all pretty excited about trying to achieve.”
Granted, the Ducks can play without any pressure knowing their playoff hopes are dashed, but the young team has seen several young players take big steps forward, especially of late.
Zegras, who netted one goal and one assist, has notched seven points in his past six games, defenseman Jackson LaCombe — in his second full NHL season — scored his 14th goal of the campaign and is on a six-game point streak (three goals, five assists) and Sam Colangelo, who is in his first full pro season, has netted seven goals in his last 10 games.
That’s just for starters. Mason McTavish collected three assists and scored the shootout winner against San Jose, which gives him 10 points in the past eight games.
With so many young players starting to realize their potential, it would appear much better days are ahead.
“Guys have taken some really big steps this year,” McTavish said. “It’s fun to watch. It’s fun to be a part of and hopefully we keep it going.”
–Field Level Media
