Game Primer: Flames on a duck hunt

The Flames start an important three-game road trip beginning with the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night at Honda Center. Calgary has two things to prove tonight: avenge the 2-1 loss the Ducks served last Saturday afternoon at the Dome, and most importantly improve their road record (11-11-1).

The Flames have 18 road games remaining in the season, and a lot is at stake including their division title and home-ice advantage in the playoffs. The Flames remain in first with 66 points in the Northwest, but could easily slip if they don’t make strides on the road.

The good news is they regained some confidence after bouncing back with Monday’s impressive 6-2 performance over the Montreal Canadiens. After a four-game losing streak, Calgary turned around their power play and continued to dominate in the penalty kill with Matthew Lombardi and Dustin Boyd netting shorthanded goals. Rene Bourque, Mike Cammalleri and David Moss also contributed goals, and Lombardi added two assists for his second three-point game of the season.

"I’m really pleased about our effort. We were working hard to get out of a little slump," said head coach Mike Keenan. "We can carry that into our next road series. We are .500 on the road and now we’ve got to get back to a more defensive style and a more intense style of game on the road to have success there as well."

Having a repeat performance won’t be an easy task especially against the Ducks. The team hasn’t faired well against Anaheim in the past, and has lost nine straight in OC with their last win on January 19, 2004.

The Ducks are third in the Pacific and sixth overall in the competitive West. They know they have to fight hard in every game if they want to stay alive.

"Every point is crucial right now," right wing Corey Perry said. "We’re pushing, just trying to stay in the playoff hunt and push up the ladder. We have to have every point. That’s going to be our season right now."

Anaheim was able to capitalize on two big mistakes from Flames defence on Saturday. Bobby Ryan scored the first goal by converting a pass from Dion Phaneuf that bounced off of Andrew Ebbett’s arm. Later in the second, Corey Perry stole the puck from Adam Pardy at the blueline and wristed a shot over Curtis McElhinney.

With a Flames win tonight, Mike Keenan will pass Pat Quinn in fourth place with 658 all-time wins. The next stop will be up the street at Staples Center against  the Los Angeles Kings where Mike Cammalleri will face his former team.

For the Flames…

Lombardi

Matthew Lombardi had a good Monday night with a +4 and scoring a shortie and two helpers. With Keenan experimenting with the offence a bit, it seemed Lombo meshed well with Mike Cammalleri and Rene Bourque who also contributed that night.

For the Ducks...

Selanne

Teemu Selanne will be honoured at tonight's game for becoming the all-time franchise leader in games played. The Finnish Flash passed former quack Steve Rucchin when he played his 617th game on January 31 against Colorado. Selanne has one goal and three assists since his return to the ice after being out for six weeks with a lacerated left quadricep.

Todd Bertuzzi needs three power play goals for 100
Craig Conroy needs two games for 900
Jarome Iginla needs six goals for 400 and three points to pass MacInnis for 2nd on Flames all time
Miikka Kiprusoff needs ten wins for 200
Daymond Langkow needs six points for 600
Matthew Lombardi needs two assists for 100
Dion Phaneuf needs five games for 300 and eight points for 200
Cory Sarich needs five assists for 100
Mike Keenan needs one win to pass Pat Quinn for 4th in all-time wins

Brandon Prust (jaw) and Wayne Primeau (foot) are expected to return later this month. Jim Vandermeer (ankle) and Rhett Warrener (shoulder) are out indefinitely.