Ducks Lose To The Flames; Gudas To Have Surgery?

Photo: AP

By Michael Walters

The Anaheim Ducks started their quick two game road tip in Calgary. John Gibson was in net against Dustin Wolf.

Recap

Nazem Kadri scored just 16 seconds into this one. The Flames had a 2-on-1 and Kadri beat Gibson high over the shoulder.

Olen Zellweger tied up the game at about the eight minute mark. Ryan Strome passed the puck across the ice to Zellweger, who was at the side the net and tapped the pass into the net. The teams were tied at one after the first period.

The teams each had a power play early in the second period and neither team converted.

The Flames scored halfway through the period while shorthanded. The Ducks turned over the puck and Blake Coleman scored on a partial breakaway.

Calgary extended their lead to 3-1 with just less than five minutes to go. Adam Kalpka tried a wraparound attempt and he was denied, but the puck went to Kevin Rooney in the slot, who beat Gibson up high.

Towards the end of the period Martin Pospisil collided with Gibson. Gibson was down for a moment and stayed in, but Lukas Dostal came in to start the third period. Radko Gudas was called for holding and the Ducks started the third period shorthanded.

Coleman scored in the opening moments of the third period on the power play to make it a three goal lead. The Ducks wouldn’t score again and ended up losing 4-1.

Analysis:

The Ducks gave up a goal just 16 seconds into this one, but then appeared to settle in as they tied the game up in the first period. Halfway through the middle frame is where the wheels started to fall off. Calgary scored two goals in less than five minutes to make it a 3-1 contest and seemed to be on cruise control after that.

The special teams were again a factor in this game. The Ducks went 0-for-2 with the man advantage and also gave up a shorthanded goal. The Flames went 1-for-3 on the power play.

In terms of even strength play, the Flames put up 76 shot attempts to 46 for the Ducks. Calgary posted a CF% of 61.29% and a FF% of 59.55%. They controlled most of the play this game posting a xGF% of 60.54% and the Ducks couldn’t answer once they got down by two goals.

Team Notes/Stats:

Gibson stayed in the game after colliding with Pospisil, but then didn’t return for the third period. There was no update after the game. He has only started in six contests since the 4 Nations Face-Off break.

The Ducks have been officially eliminated from the playoff race with the loss to the Flames. (*Spoiler alert* They were out of the wild card race a few weeks ago.)

Robert Sara of Sport.cz reported this morning that Radko Gudas is expected to have surgery after this season, but didn’t state what type of surgery. The Ducks have since refuted the report stating “The report is inaccurate, Gudas is healthy and not contemplating surgery.”

What’s Next?

The Ducks play the Canucks in Vancouver on Saturday at 1PM.

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April 4th, 2025