Flames aim to stay hot at home against Ducks
CALGARY, Alberta -- The Calgary Flames wrap up a three-game homestand on Sunday with a tough test against the Anaheim Ducks at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Winners of two straight games on home ice, the Flames (12-13-2) will look to keep that momentum going against the Ducks (12-8-5), who lost 3-2 in overtime to the Oilers in Edmonton on Saturday.
"We weren't good enough at the Saddledome obviously in the first bit of the season, so this is huge for us," Flames right winger Kris Versteeg said after scoring once in regulation and again in the shootout during Calgary's 3-2 win over the Minnesota Wild on Friday.
"I think we were trying to do too much at home and put a show on for the fans. The biggest show you can put on is a W, so it was another big win for us and good way to do it."
After winning just two of their first eight games on home ice, the Flames have now won three of their past four at the Saddledome.
"We needed to find a way to win (at home) and I think right now we're learning as a group and we've got to continue this momentum," said center Sean Monahan, who scored the shootout winner against the Wild after drawing an assist on Versteeg's goal in the first period to run his point-scoring streak to three straight games.
"We just take it day by day. Obviously, it's a long season and we prepare for every game like it's a must win. That game Sunday, we're going to come in and have our workboots on and get to work."
In his first season as Flames coach, Glen Gulutzan admitted that it has taken longer than he wanted to implement his system.
"It took a little longer for us to get everything up and running like we wanted it to," Gulutzan told reporters on Saturday. "We just have to progress at a rate that's greater than the rest of the league and I think the learning curve for us is a lot steeper than maybe some of the other teams in the league. We're still trying to grab hold of a new system. We think we can make bigger strides as the year goes on."
While Anaheim lost in overtime on Saturday in Edmonton, the Ducks have still earned points in four straight games -- going 3-0-1 during that span -- and sit third in the Pacific Division just two points behind the San Jose Sharks and one back of the Oilers.
"Any loss is tough," said Ducks goaltender John Gibson, who stopped 29 of 32 shots he faced against the Oilers. "It was a good job fighting back, (but) it was a bit of a letdown that we couldn't get the second point."
The Ducks have now lost four times in overtime and once in a shootout, which is something they want to improve upon going forward.
"We want to take pride in every game we play and obviously we haven't had the success we want in overtime," Gibson said. "Still a lot of time left, so hopefully we can turn it around."
The Ducks had a great chance to pick up their first overtime win of the season against the Oilers, who were penalized for too many men on the ice with 45 seconds to play in regulation.
"Obviously, we had an advantage there but didn't manage to capitalize on it," said right winger Jakob Silfverberg, who's not too concerned about Anaheim's lack of success in extra time.
"We're not trying to think too much about it. But, obviously, we practiced it a little bit a couple of weeks ago. Next time, we get there we've just got to make sure we get out of there with a win."
