Game Day: Weary Ducks on Flames’ menu

Their goose was cooked last night in Edmonton. Now the Anaheim Ducks will try to put on a good enough show to prevent what could be a roasting by the Flames tonight in Calgary.

Sorry, I had to complete the punny food references.   

In all seriousness, tonight's game at the Saddledome could go one of two ways: the Ducks come out and play hard to try to prevent being roadkill for the second straight game, or the Flames take advantage of the visitors playing on back-to-back nights, the first date resulting in the Ducks' 6-0 shellacking by the Oilers. There's also the factor of Anaheim missing two top players as neither first-line centre Trevor Zegras nor starting goalie John Gibson are slated to suit up tonight after suffering injuries in Saturday's loss.

In any case, I'd wager the Flames will take this one as they seemed to be engaged to the point where they realize any step back could seal their playoff fate as they chase the Winnipeg Jets for the final wildcard spot in the Western Conference.

Plus the Jets host a particularly challenging foe tonight in the New Jersey Devils, who are fourth in the NHL overall with 104 points in the standings.

Opportunity knocks for Calgary.

Flames projected lines

Forward

1. Andrew Mangiapane • Elias Lindholm • Tyler Toffoli
2. Jonathan Huberdeau • Mikael Backlund • Blake Coleman
3. Nick Ritchie • Nazem Kadri • Dillon Dube
4. Milan Lucic • Trevor Lewis • Walker Duehr

Defence

1. Noah Hanifin • Rasmus Andersson
2. Nikita Zadorov • MacKenzie Weegar
3. Dennis Gilbert • Troy Stecher

Goal

• Jacob Markstrom

Ducks projected lines

Forward

1. Maxime Comtois • Ryan Strome • Frank Vatrano
2. Brock McGinn • Derek Grant • Jakob Silfverberg
3. Max Jones • Mason McTavish • Brett Leason
4. Nikita Nesterenko • Isac Lundestrom • Sam Carrick

Defence

1. Cam Fowler • Scott Harrington
2. Nathan Beaulieu • Colton White
3. Simon Benoit • Kevin Shattenkirk

Goal

• Lukas Dostal