Playoff Hopefuls
Calgary,Alb – The Calgary Flames and the Anaheim Ducks are both maintaining playoff aspirations, but each is first trying to end some recent struggles.
The Flames seek to prevent their first four-game losing streak of the season, while the Ducks look to avoid losing three in a row for the first time in over a month on Saturday – the first of the teams’ two meetings in five days.
Oddsmakers from Online Sportsbook Sportsbook.com have made the Flames –180 money line favorites for Thursday’s game against the Ducks. Current NHL Public Betting Information shows that 63% of more than 167 bets for this game have been placed on the Flames -180.
Calgary (30-17-4) capped an 8-3-0 January with three consecutive victories, but has yet to crack the win column this month. All three February defeats have occurred in regulation, most recently 5-2 to Chicago on Thursday night at home.
While the Flames are on the verge of their lengthiest slide since dropping four in a row from Jan. 8-15, 2008, they remain atop the Northwest Division with a 10-point lead on second-place Vancouver.
Meanwhile, Anaheim (26-24-5) – which is in pursuit of a fourth consecutive postseason appearance – is among several teams vying for one of the final four playoff spots in the West.
After meeting this weekend, the Ducks host the Flames next Wednesday in the conclusion of their season series.
"We can’t get comfortable," forward Eric Nystrom told the Flames’ official Web site. "We have some big games coming up. … We have to get focused, get back on the same page and get our game back to where it should be."
Anaheim has lost nine of its last 14, and the first two on this three-game road trip. Thursday night’s 4-2 defeat in Nashville has the Ducks in jeopardy of their first three-game slide since Dec. 22-27.
Corey Perry’s second goal of the game brought the Ducks within one entering the final period, but they allowed a fourth goal with 1:11 remaining to end their chances of a comeback.
"We played with everything we had. You have to like the effort of our hockey club," coach Randy Carlyle said.
Carlyle also had to be encouraged by Jean-Sebastien Giguere’s performance. The All-Star netminder stopped 30 of 33 shots while making his first appearance since Jan. 21 and playing his first full game since Jan. 16.
"It’s nice to go one full game and have some positives to build on," said Giguere, who is 1-6-2 with a 3.61 goals-against average in his last 10 contests.
Giguere has been in net for this season’s first two meetings with the Flames, and is 8-3-0 with a 1.98 GAA in his last 12 versus his former team.
Anaheim has won seven of its last 11 matchups with Calgary, splitting two games in 2008-09. Giguere made 28 saves in a 4-3 loss at Pengrowth Saddledome on Dec. 23. The Flames are 10-2-0 versus the Ducks at home since Jan. 19, 2002.
The Flames enter with 10 wins in their last 12 as hosts. Forward Michael Cammalleri, first on the team with 26 goals and second with 49 points, had his six-game home point streak snapped Thursday, but has 13 goals and seven assists in his last 12 in Calgary overall.
In 28 career games versus Anaheim, Cammalleri has 13 goals and 26 points – his most against any opponent.
Perry has three goals and five assists in his last 11 games versus the Flames, and has 10 goals and five assists in his last 13 overall.
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Posted: 2/7/09 12:05AM ET
