The Calgary Flames host the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday at the Honda Center. This will be the nightcap of the second night in the 2017 NHL Playoffs. The Flames have made it to the postseason for the second time in the last three years. Their postseason in 2015 was ended by the Ducks in a 4-1 series defeat in the second round. Anaheim has made it to the postseason frequently, but only has one championship (2006). Calgary hopes to finally get past them, but they've only defeated them once since that playoff defeat. The puck drops at 10:30 PM Eastern time and the game can be seen on NBC Sports Network.
Flames (4th Pacific [1st Wild Card], 45-33-4 overall, 21-16-4 away, 43-39 ATS)
Calgary stumbled down the stretch, losing five of their last seven games, but they were far enough away from the Los Angeles Kings that their playoff spot wasn't in jeopardy by the end of March. Their regular season ended with a 3-1 loss to the Sharks. Their opponent went up 2-0 and that looked to be the score after two periods until Curtis Lazar was able to put one in the back of the net with just six seconds remaining. However, the Sharks ended any hope by scoring an insurance goal in the middle of the final period.
Goaltender Chad Johnson (18-15-1) will be out for this game with a leg injury he suffered at Anaheim on April 4th.
He's missed the last two games and it's unknown when he'll return.
Ducks (1st Pacific, 46-23-13 overall, 29-8-4 home, 44-38 ATS)
Anaheim was able to win the division on the last day of the season with a 4-3 overtime win over the Kings. The Ducks got on the board immediately with a goal by Patrick Eaves in the first 30 seconds of the contest.
LA got the equalizer and the score remained tied until Antoine Vermette was able to punch in a power play goal at the 9:53 mark of the second period. Not only would LA answer later in the period, but they would take the lead in the third. This time, the Ducks were able to respond with a score by Nate Thompson. Shea Theodore got the game-winning goal 53 seconds into the overtime.
It was a penalty-riddled game with 10 power play opportunities.
Defender Korbinian Holzer (7 pts) is expected to return to the team after an undisclosed matter and should be available. Defender Clayton Stoner (3 pts) should also be available after spending much of the season on the injured reserve list. Left wing Nick Ritchie (28 pts) is completing the second part of a two-game suspension and will be back in game two.
Betting on Ducks and Flames
Anaheim is a -160 favorite at home on the moneyline and Calgary sits at +140. The Flames have lost their last 27 meetings in Anaheim.
