Preview: Ducks Look for Third Straight Win, Host Division-Leading Flames

The Ducks look to complete a three-game sweep of divisional opponents this week, hosting the Calgary Flames tonight at Honda Center (7 p.m.; TV: Bally Sports West; Radio: AM 830 KLAA).
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The Ducks earned back-to-back wins this week over a pair of Pacific Division foes in the Kings and Golden Knights. Anaheim knocked off LA in a shootout on Tuesday at Staples Center, holding off a Kings' third-period rally thanks to a shootout-winning tally by Kevin Shattenkirk. Less than 24 hours later, the Ducks outlasted Vegas in a seesaw battle that came down to the game's final moments.
Tonight's game will feature two close friends and former co-workers, Dallas Eakins and Darryl Sutter, as the opposing head coaches. Sutter joined the Ducks as an Advisor to the Head Coach when Eakins was named to his post prior to the 2019-20 season.
"It looks we were pretty good on the hire. We let him go and now his team is really good," Eakins said with a smile. "He used to be a pain in my butt walking around here all the time and now his team is a pain in our butt. I love the man dearly. They don't come much finer than Darryl Sutter."
Anaheim and Calgary met in the opening week of the season, on Oct. 18 in Alberta. The Ducks trailed late in the third period, but Rickard Rakell's second goal of the season forced overtime and Jamie Drysdale notched his first career OT winner to give Anaheim the extra standings point. Troy Terry set up the game-winning goal, registering points for the second consecutive game and beginning what would become a 16-game point streak.

With three points in Anaheim's win over Vegas on Wednesday night, rookie forward Trevor Zegras continued his impressive first full NHL season. Zegras, who has 12 points (4-8=12) in his last nine games, ranks tied for second among NHL rookies in scoring (6-11=17) and tied for third in goals and assists.
"Z is just a fun guy to be around," Eakins said on Thursday's NHL Now. "He never stops. He truly believes he can do anything and everything on that ice...If you look at that game Wednesday night, [Zegras and Jamie Drysdale] were right at the front leading the way with the excitement factor."

The Ducks face a tough test in hosting the division-leading Flames. Calgary has earned points in nine of its last ten games (7-1-2) and leads the league with a +30 goal differential. The Flames also boast one of the NHL's best road records, with a 10-2-2 mark away from Scotiabank Sattledome.
Despite the stellar record though, the Flames are 0-2-1 against Pacific Division opponents.
Calgary's early season success has been built on a tight checking, defensive style and excellent goaltending. The Flames are the only NHL club to allow less than two goals-per-game (1.95) and rank fifth on the penalty kill (87.0%). Second-year Flame Jacob Markstrom leads NHL netminders in save percentage (.938, min. 10 GP) and ranks second in goals against average (1.75, min. 10 GP).
The Flames visit Anaheim finishing the second half of a back-to-back after a 3-2 win over the Kings at Staples Center on Thursday. Andrew Magnapiane scored his team-leading 16th goal of the season, tied for third in the NHL, and Markstrom made 30 saves for his 10th win.
Honda Center has been a house of horrors over the past two decades for the Flames. Anaheim posted 25 straight victories over Calgary in its home building from 2004-17, the longest-home winning streak over a single opponent in NHL history. The Ducks also beat the Flames in all three playoff meetings between the clubs over that span, winning seven of eight games on home ice.
Anaheim and Calgary continue their four-game season series later this month (Dec. 21) north of the border.