Anaheim’s improbable run continues Sunday night as the Ducks seek their fifth consecutive victory, welcoming the Calgary Flames to Honda Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 5 p.m. PT and will be available exclusively on Victory+, offering fans a chance to witness the Ducks’ latest test against a Pacific Division rival.
The Ducks (32-23-3) are riding a wave of momentum fueled by dramatic, come-from-behind wins. Their most recent triumph, a 5-4 overtime victory against the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, marked their NHL-leading ninth multi-goal comeback of the season. Chris Kreider scored the game-winning goal with just 15 seconds remaining in overtime, assisted by Beckett Sennecke. This resilience has become a hallmark of the Ducks’ play, and a key factor in their recent success. The team is currently second in the Pacific Division, a testament to their ability to overcome adversity.
“Comeback Quacks” Finding New Ways to Win
Sennecke, who had a career-high three assists in Friday’s win, emphasized the team’s unwavering belief in their ability to rally. “We just have that belief in ourselves that we’re never out of it,” he said. “That’s kind of the biggest thing in these comeback wins is we never consider we’re out of it, and we know we can score goals.”
Head coach Joel Quenneville echoed Sennecke’s sentiment, noting the thrilling nature of the recent victories and the enthusiastic support of the home crowd. “It reminded me a lot of the last game, down two goals in the third period against a good team that needs points like we do,” Quenneville said. “The comeback was great, they tied it up, and made a nice play at the end of the game. It was a thrilling game, the crowd’s been great.”
The Ducks’ nine multi-goal comeback victories have tied a single-season club record for Anaheim, and they’ve also recorded consecutive multi-goal third-period comeback wins for the second time in franchise history. However, players acknowledge that relying solely on dramatic comebacks isn’t a sustainable strategy.
“We can score goals and we have so many guys who can set the puck in the net, so it’s obviously huge to have, but we don’t want to be relying on that every game,” said Jackson LaCombe. “We’ve got to locate a way to win games in different ways.”
Flames Glance to Rebound After Tough February
The Calgary Flames (24-28-6) enter Sunday’s contest seventh in the Pacific Division, looking to turn their season around. They finished February with a 2-2-0 record, most recently falling to the Los Angeles Kings 2-0 on Saturday. Despite the recent struggles, Flames head coach Ryan Huska expressed confidence in his team’s readiness for the quick turnaround.
“It’s one of the easier back-to-backs I’d say in the league with the short little bus ride,” Huska said, referring to the relatively short distance between Los Angeles and Anaheim. “It’s not a late night for us at all…so our guys will be ready.”
Previous Matchup Showed Tight Competition
This marks the second of four meetings between the Ducks and the Flames this regular season. Anaheim secured a 4-3 overtime win in their first encounter in Calgary in January, signaling a competitive rivalry. Cutter Gauthier leads the Ducks in scoring with 26 goals and 24 assists, while Nazem Kadri paces the Flames with 12 goals and 29 assists. AP News provides further details on the team’s performance.
The Ducks will be without any listed injuries heading into the game, while the Flames have not reported any injuries as of Saturday night.
As the Ducks continue their impressive run, and the Flames strive for consistency, Sunday’s matchup at Honda Center promises to be an exciting contest. The game offers a chance for Anaheim to solidify their position in the Pacific Division and for Calgary to commence a climb back into playoff contention.
Fans can catch all the action live on Victory+. The next scheduled meeting between the Ducks and Flames is March 15th in Calgary.
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