Anaheim Ducks improve position in Elite Eight, crippling Calgary Flames’ chances at Play-offs – NHL Update
The Flames chances of making the playoffs now are probably extremely slim to none, as they lost once again to the Anaheim Ducks 4-2, this time at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta.
Wednesday night could have brightened the Flames once again. But when there are only four games remaining in the regulation season, it’s hard to tell if they can keep alight any longer.
The Ducks improved their position in the elite eight club of the Western Conference, moving up to the sixth place with a one advantage over Nashville with 93. Calgary is tied for ninth place with Dallas, who both have 87 points and are just under eighth
place Chicago by three.
"We're not quitting. Obviously, losing tonight, our odds diminish. We have to go on the road and play our butts off," said Calgary Coach Brent Sutter, who has not lost hope just yet.
Calgary took hold of the match early in the first period. Captain Jarome Iginla blasted a pass from Alex Tanguay through opposing goalie Ray Emery within the opening three minutes. It was his 37th of the season.
But Calgary could not hold on for much longer.
Bobby Ryan and Corey Perry each fired off during over eight minutes of power play time that the home team gave in the first period alone. All those power plays gave Anaheim the time they needed to end the initial period 2-1.
Anaheim defenseman, Lubomir Visnovsky, added his 16th of the season during the final two minutes of the second phase. The Ducks were outshot 10-3 in the period, but Emery made 23 rejections to keep them alive. Calgary’s goalie, Miikka Kiprusoff,
was not playing as his usual self. He was able to stop only 18 of 21 shots.
"That was a big goal at the end of the period for sure, no question about that," Perry said who himself picked up double goals and an assist. "Going up two goals going into the third was huge."
Mark Giordano capitalized on an Anaheim penalty the carried over from the second period, giving Iginla his first assist of the night 32 second into the final. They tried hard after that to at least tie the match, but could not find an opening through the
reenergized Ray Emery.
Perry added his second of the night with under a minute remaining on an empty net in the final.
It is not the lack of chances that has taken Calgary down from their once secure fifth spot in the Western Conference. They have lost seven of their last nine games at a time when every game is of grave importance. Had they won those lost matches, seeing
Calgary overtake even Detroit would not have been a surprise.
They start their two-game road trip on Friday against the 13th place St. Louis Blues in which they can grab an easy two points.
Anaheim faces tough competition on Saturday when they go against the vicious Sharks in San Jose.
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