The Anaheim Ducks return to Honda Center after a five-game winning streak was snapped, eager to rediscover the scoring touch that made them one of the league’s most entertaining teams. Standing in their way are the Calgary Flames, a side that has clawed its way back into the playoff conversation after a dreadful start and will be desperate to avoid another defensive setback against a Ducks attack that has been relentless.
Anaheim’s offense has been a force of nature
Anaheim saw its five-game run end with a 4:2 loss to Nashville, a night when the goals finally dried up after an eight-game stretch of scoring five or more. Even in defeat, Cutter Gauthier extended his goal streak to seven games and his point streak to nine, continuing a torrid pace that has him among the league’s most productive young forwards. Leo Carlsson has been the engine alongside him, and the Ducks lead the Western Conference with 25 power-play goals. Troy Terry returned to the lineup after missing the first 18 games following offseason hip surgery, giving head coach Joel Quenneville another weapon as the schedule tightens.
The concern is on the other side of the puck. Anaheim concedes around four goals per game and has been leaky in its own zone, a pattern that has offset some of the offensive brilliance. Against a Calgary team that can punish mistakes with a potent power play, the Ducks will need more structure in front of their goaltenders than they showed against the Predators.
Calgary is no longer the easy touch it once was
Calgary opened the season 1-5-0 and looked destined for a long winter, but since then the Flames have won five of their past eight and sit within striking distance of a wild-card spot in the West. The turnaround has been driven by Devin Cooley, whose save percentage during a five-game stretch hovered near 95 percent, and by a power play that ranks among the league’s best. Joel Farabee, Kevin Bahl and Matthew Coronato have taken steps forward, while Matvei Gridin and Zayne Parekh have injected youth and creativity into the lineup.
The Flames are coming off a 3:1 home loss to the Rangers, a game in which Adam Klapka scored the lone goal and Cooley was beaten three times after a run of strong form. It was a reminder that Calgary’s margin for error remains thin, especially when the power play is not converting and the defense is under pressure.
Special teams could tilt a tight contest
The Ducks’ power play has been a genuine weapon, and Calgary’s penalty kill has been middle-of-the-pack. If Anaheim can draw penalties and get its top unit on the ice, it has the skill to break the game open. Conversely, the Flames’ power play has been one of their few reliable sources of offense, and the Ducks’ penalty kill has been vulnerable at times. The team that manages discipline and capitalizes on its chances with the man advantage will hold a significant edge.
Injuries and lineup questions
Anaheim is without A.J. Greer, Ryan Poehling and Ian Moore, all of whom remain out with upper- or lower-body injuries. The Ducks reassigned goaltender Laurent Brossoit to the Gulls, a sign that their crease situation is settling. Calgary suffered a significant blow when Kevin Bahl was ruled out for the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon, an injury he suffered before the Flames’ recent meeting with Anaheim. Joel Hanley has stepped into the lineup in his place, but Bahl’s absence removes a key piece of Calgary’s defensive core and puts more pressure on the remaining blue-liners.
What the numbers suggest
The chances favor Anaheim at around 46 percent to win in regulation, compared with 33 percent for Calgary. A level score after sixty minutes carries about a 22 percent likelihood, which would send the game to overtime or a shootout. A likely scoreline of 3:2 reflects the Ducks’ superior offensive firepower and home-ice advantage, though the narrow margin suggests another competitive game is expected.
The bottom line
Anaheim has the talent to overwhelm opponents, but its defensive inconsistencies keep games closer than they perhaps should be. Calgary has shown resilience and a dangerous power play, yet the loss of Bahl and the ups and downs of its goaltending leave the Flames vulnerable. The Ducks are the more likely winner, but a tight, high-event game that could stretch beyond regulation would surprise no one.
Preview prepared from the match data · 15 November