Ducks at Flames preview

DUCKS (24-27-9) at FLAMES (37-16-7)
9 p.m. ET; SNW, FS-W, NHL.TV

Smith is 3-0-1 with a 2.46 goals-against average and .915 save percentage in his past four games.
Calgary, which leads the San Jose Sharks by one point for first place in the Pacific Division and the Western Conference, has outscored opponents 14-8 during a three-game winning streak.
Anaheim, five points back of the Minnesota Wild for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference, has won two straight and is 3-1-0 in the past four games after a seven-game losing streak.

Players to watch

Ducks goalie Ryan Miller is 2-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average, .964 save percentage and one shutout in two starts since returning from a knee injury.
Flames captain Mark Giordano is two points from becoming the fourth defenseman in NHL history to have at least 60 points at age 35 or older. He would join Nicklas Lidstrom (2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2010-11), Al MacInnis (1998-99, 2002-03) and Sergei Zubov (2005-06).

They said it

"To me, being a former player, this is the most fun time of the year. All you do is wake up and look at the standings every day. This is what you play for, to make the playoffs. The dog days of February are almost over. It's crunch time. Those are the fun games to play…when every game means so much." -- Ducks assistant Rich Preston
"Guys are obviously aware of what position we're in. We're hockey players. We know those things. But it's not really talked much about. We just really enjoy ourselves. The mood is pretty light." -- Calgary defenseman Travis Hamonic

Ducks projected lineup

Rickard Rakell -- Ryan Getzlaf -- Corey Perry
Max Jones
-- Adam Henrique --
Troy Terry
Devin Shore -- Derek Grant -- Jakob Silfverberg
Nick Ritchie -- Ryan Kesler -- Carter Rowney
Cam Fowler -- Michael Del Zotto
Hampus Lindholm -- Josh Manson
Jaycob Megna
-- Brandon Montour
Ryan Miller
Kevin Boyle
Scratched:Andy Welinski](https://www.nhl.com/player/andy-welinski-8476407), Daniel Sprong
Injured:John Gibson (upper body), Chad Johnson (head)

Flames projected lineup

Johnny Gaudreau -- Sean Monahan -- Matthew Tkachuk
Michael Frolik -- Mikael Backlund -- Elias Lindholm
Sam Bennett -- Mark Jankowski -- Austin Czarnik
Andrew Mangiapane
-- Derek Ryan -- Garnet Hathaway
Mark Giordano -- Rasmus Andersson
Noah Hanifin -- Travis Hamonic
TJ Brodie -- Dalton Prout
Mike Smith
David Rittich
Scratched :Curtis Lazar
Injured :James Neal (lower body), Oliver Kylington (lower body), Michael Stone (blood clot)

Status report

The Ducks held an optional morning skate. … Andersson will skate on Calgary's top defense pair with Giordano. Prout will play for Kylington, who is day-to-day.

Stat pack

Silfverberg has three goals in two games and is one from 100 with the Ducks. Henrique has four points (two goals, two assists) in two games. Del Zotto will play his 600th NHL game. … Lindholm has two goals and seven assists during a six-game point streak. Backlund will play his 600th NHL game. Bennett and Hanifin will each play his 300th NHL game.