The Anaheim Ducks have an offensive attack capable of out-gunning teams. However, it will not work every game, so the big improvement necessary is on defense.
The Ducks were reminded of that lesson in a big way in their last outing, and they must prove to be quick studies when they play host to the Calgary Flames on Sunday.
Anaheim was handed a 6-2 thumping at the hands of the New York Islanders on Saturday. The Ducks have lost two straight contests following a five-game winning streak.
“Defensively, that’s going to be a work in progress,” Anaheim coach Joel Quenneville said. “It’s part of the game. We’ve got to make better plays in front of the net. We’ve got to make sure our reading of situations off the rush (improves). We’re making mistakes on coverage. That can’t happen. That’s on me but let’s sort things out.”
This is the fourth and final meeting between the Flames and Ducks this season. Anaheim has won two of the first three.
To continue that trend, though, the Ducks know they must be much better than they were against the Islanders.
New York took an early lead and extended it to a 5-2 edge with four second-period tallies. And nobody was kidding themselves with a search for moral victories.
“Just turn the page,” forward Alex Killorn said. “The nice part is we play again in less than 24 hours. It’s a great opportunity to get two points.”
The lone positive was that forward Cutter Gauthier continued his torrid goal-scoring stretch. Gauthier tallied once to extend his goal streak to eight games, in which he has tallied 15 times.
He also is on a 10-game point streak with 19 points (15 goals, four assists).
The Flames arrive after claiming a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday to kick off a three-game trip through California.
Calgary recorded a victory away from the Saddledome for only the third time this season (3-5-1).
“We stuck with it, found a way to get a road win,” Flames coach Ryan Huska said.
Even so, the Flames know it was in big part thanks to a strong game from goaltender Dustin Wolf, who held strong against a slew of odd-man rushes over the final 35 minutes of the clash.
“We gave up way too much in regards to the rushes against, with some of the decisions we made pinching,” Huska said. “Our goaltender was really good. He made saves that he should make, but he also made a bunch that he probably shouldn’t have.”
Even so, the Flames drummed up a win they needed to remain within hailing distance of the playoff picture. Calgary is two points back of the Ducks in the standings. Anaheim holds third spot in the Pacific Division.
Beating the Kings provides much-needed confidence for the rebuilding club that was pegged to be a bottom feeder, but holding its own as the season nears the one-quarter mark.
“I don’t think it was perfect, but we did a lot of good things,” forward Morgan Frost said. “Our five-on-five play had a lot of good moments, and it definitely is a nice way to start the trip.”
With both clubs playing on Saturday night, it is likely the Ducks will start Ville Husso in net, while the Flames will turn to Devin Cooley.
–Field Level Media
