(SportsNetwork.com) – The Calgary Flames will try to match their longest
winning streak of the season Tuesday when they host an Anaheim Ducks team that
only has managed one win over its last six games.
The Flames have begun a five-game homestand with consecutive wins, posting a
5-3 decision against Arizona on Thursday before beating Ottawa on Saturday by
a 4-2 count.
Kari Ramo earned the win over the Senators with a 23-save performance, but
Jonas Hiller will get the start tonight against his former team.
Hiller, an undrafted free agent, played seven seasons for the Ducks before
leaving Anaheim this offseason to sign a two-year deal with Calgary. The 32-
year-old Swiss netminder compiled a 162-110-32 record and a 2.51 goals against
average in 326 games with Anaheim, but had lost playing time last season to
younger goalies like Frederik Andersen and John Gibson.
Only Jean-Sebastien Giguere (206) and Guy Hebert (173) have recorded more wins
for the Ducks than Hiller.
Calgary beat Ottawa thanks to a strong third-period effort. The score was tied
1-1 after 40 minutes, but the Flames tallied three times in the final stanza
to skate away with the 4-2 triumph.
Lance Bouma and Markus Granlund each scored and assisted on the other’s third-
period goal for the Flames. Josh Jooris also scored in the third and collected
one assist.
“Our pressure was unbelievable. I felt we pressured their goalie and their
defensemen,” Flames head coach Bob Hartley said. “We deserved this win.”
Calgary, which has won six of eight overall, is 4-2-2 as the home club this
season. The Flames will close their current homestand with upcoming games
against Chicago and New Jersey.
Although the Ducks only have one win over their last six tests, the club was
able to pick up a point in seven straight before getting slammed 6-2 by the
visiting Florida Panthers on Sunday.
Anaheim earned a point for the seventh game in a row (3-0-4) with Saturday’s
overtime loss in Los Angeles, but saw the streak come to an end in a blowout
loss to the Panthers. Florida hadn’t scored more than four goals this season
before putting forth a season-best total against the Ducks.
The score was tied 1-1 after 20 minutes, but the Panthers scored the game’s
next five goals, including four in the second period alone.
Hampus Lindholm and Andrew Cogliano each lit the lamp for Anaheim, while
Frederik Andersen allowed four goals on 15 shots and was pulled for the second
time in three games.
“We weren’t ready and it showed in the first period. No one in this room was
ready, starting from the net on out,” said Andersen. “That’s unacceptable in
this league, and we paid for it today. We have to be better.”
Jason LaBarbera came on and gave up two goals on 14 shots in relief for the
Ducks.
Anaheim lost despite welcoming forward Cory Perry back to the ice after he
missed five games with the mumps. Perry was kept off the scoresheet, however,
to end his seven-game point streak. Despite his recent absence, Perry is still
leading Anaheim with 11 goals this season.
The Ducks boast a 6-2-1 road record this season and are beginning a two-game
swing tonight. Anaheim will complete the brief trek in Thursday’s game against
the Vancouver Canucks.
Calgary has won four of its last six home meetings versus the Ducks, but the
clubs have split the last eight at the Saddledome. Anaheim has claimed five of
the last seven in this series overall.
