Flames-Ducks Preview
The Anaheim Ducks have looked better lately after a horrid start, though they ran into a setback their last time out.
They'll try to bounce back Tuesday night by continuing the league's longest home winning streak in a series in nearly 29 years as they seek a 21st straight home victory against the Calgary Flames.
Anaheim (7-10-4) hasn't lost to the Flames at home since a 5-1 defeat Jan. 19, 2004. The 20-game run is tied for the fourth-longest home winning streak in NHL history by one franchise against another, and is the longest since Philadelphia's NHL record of 23 straight home victories against Pittsburgh from Feb. 17, 1980-Jan. 29, 1987.
The Ducks have lost three straight at home this season, while Calgary is 3-7-1 on the road.
Anaheim's offense had looked improved, averaging 2.7 goals during a 10-game stretch before Saturday's 5-0 loss at Tampa Bay. The Ducks scored only 10 goals in their first 10 contests.
Saturday's defeat denied Anaheim a second straight win. The team's four-game winning streak Nov. 1-7 remains the only time it has won consecutive games.
"Tough league, you've got to string wins together," captain Ryan Getzlaf said. "Win one, lose one, those kind of things, it doesn't build anything in the standings, it doesn't build anything in the (locker) room."
The Ducks lost despite a 30-24 advantage in shots, and have a dead-even margin on the season. Their goaltending has been competitive with a .913 save percentage that ranks in the middle of the pack, but they simply haven't been as good as their opponents at converting chances, as their 5.9 shooting percentage is one of the league's worst.
"It's just the inconsistency in our game," said Getzlaf, who has one goal and eight assists in 17 games. "Game-to-game, period-to-period. I don't think it's so much focused on one period. We've got to find a way to build something where we're finding a way to play the right way all time."
Getzlaf has eight goals and 18 assists in 18 appearances during Anaheim's home winning streak in the series.
The Flames (8-12-1) are seeking a third consecutive victory for the first time. They've allowed a league-worst 3.5 goals per game this season, but have seen that number drop to 2.8 during a 5-4-0 stretch.
Johnny Gaudreau scored in overtime in Friday's 2-1 win against Chicago as Calgary improved to 5-1 in overtime and shootouts compared to 3-12 in regulation.
"I think a lot of guys in our locker room like it," Gaudreau told the team's official website. "We've got a fast D-core that is good with the puck and we've got a lot of skilled offensive guys. I think we like it a lot."
Gaudreau has been more consistent at home with 14 points in 10 games compared to six in 11 on the road.
Calgary owns one of the league's worst penalty kills, letting opponents score on 25.4 percent of opportunities. Meanwhile, the Ducks have five goals on 17 power plays in their last five home games.