Flames Battle Ducks
Whether Paul Kariya or Teemu Selanne is the best player in the history of the Anaheim Ducks is debatable. Selanne’s next point, though, will give him a decided edge in that argument.
Selanne looks to become the Ducks’ all-time scoring leader when they continue a seven-game homestand Sunday night against the Calgary Flames.
Oddsmakers from Sportsbook.com have made Anaheim -174 money line favorites (NHL Odds) for today’s game, the over/under has been set at 5 goals (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 68% of bets for this game have been placed on Anaheim -174 (View NHL Bet Percentages).
Selanne has 669 points in seven seasons with Anaheim (32-23-7), tying him with Kariya for the franchise’s all-time lead. Selanne is already the team’s leading goal scorer, with 314 to Kariya’s 300.
After sitting out the first 56 games while contemplating retirement, Selanne returned Feb. 5 and helped the Ducks to five straight wins – all on the road – in his first five games. He has one goal and two assists this season.
Anaheim completed a nine-game road trip 5-3-1, then returned home Friday and had its win streak snapped with a 4-2 loss to Pacific Division-leading Dallas. The defeat prevented the Ducks from becoming the first team in NHL history to win six in a row, lose six straight and then win six in a row again.
"We knew that the first game is always tough coming off a road trip, but still it’s disappointing," Selanne said. "The bottom line is really we didn’t play good enough."
The loss dropped Anaheim six points behind the Stars, and to 1-5-0 this season against the Pacific’s top team.
Chris Kunitz had his third two-goal game of the season for the Ducks, who have dropped two straight at the Honda Center after winning seven in a row there.
Top center Ryan Getzlaf was held without a goal for the 11th straight game Friday, the longest drought of his four-year career. Getzlaf, the team leader with 43 assists and 62 points, has one goal in nine career games against the Flames.
Also struggling to put the puck in the net for Anaheim is left wing Todd Bertuzzi, who has one goal in his last 12 games after scoring five times during a five-game stretch last month.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere was outstanding during the Ducks’ five-game win streak, going 4-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and one shutout before allowing three goals on 20 shots Friday. He is 7-1-0 with two ties and a 2.27 GAA in 10 career home starts against Calgary.
The Flames (29-21-8) were denied a third straight win on Friday, falling 6-3 to last-place Los Angeles.
Daymond Langkow, Dustin Boyd and Owen Nolan scored for Calgary, which allowed a season high in goals and remained four points behind Northwest Division-leading Minnesota.
"We didn’t play with preparation,” Flames coach Mike Keenan said. "We just didn’t have any defense, particularly in the first period. It makes you wonder what level of preparation or element is needed to play with consistency.”
Calgary captain Jarome Iginla recently went 10 games without a goal, but has scored three times in his past five contests. Linemate Kristian Huselius’ goalless drought reached 10 games Friday, but he scored twice in the Flames’ 5-3 win over Anaheim on Dec. 29.
These teams have split two meetings this season, both in Calgary. The Ducks have won five straight at home against the Flames since a 5-1 loss on Jan. 19, 2004.
by: Staff Writers – Email Us
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