The Calgary Flames face a critical matchup against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, with just six points separating them from the final Western Conference wild card spot and eight games left to make up ground.
While the Flames boast a solid defensive record (17th in the league with 2.9 goals against) and have dominated this rivalry lately—winning six of their last seven against Anaheim—their anemic offense (31st in goals-for at 2.6) could make this a tight, low-scoring affair.
All eyes will be on goaltender Dustin Wolf, who's posted impressive numbers this season (24-16-6, 2.67 GAA), as the desperate home team Flames look to continue their dominance over the away team Ducks, who stand on the brink of playoff elimination.
Calgary Flames vs. Anaheim Ducks prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Calgary Flames vs Anaheim Ducks matchup, our predictive model gives the Flames a 63% chance of defeating the Ducks.
Pre-game probabilities
Calgary Flames
Moneyline
Win %
63%
37%
Anaheim Ducks
Calgary Flames: 63% win probability
- Superior position in standings (9th vs 12th in Western Conference)
- Better goal differential (-25 compared to Ducks' -28)
- Higher point total (82 points in 74 games versus 74 points in 74 games)
Anaheim Ducks: 37% win probability
- Worse recent form (WLWWL compared to Calgary's LWLLW)
- Poor road performance (reflected in their 12th place standing)
- Defensive struggles (233 goals against, ranking among bottom third in conference)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts..
| Calgary Flames | Anaheim Ducks | |
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| Moneyline |
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Calgary Flames vs. Anaheim Ducks preview
The Calgary Flames are clinging to playoff hopes as they host the Anaheim Ducks Thursday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome in what could be a season-defining matchup for both Western Conference rivals.
Calgary, sitting just six points behind the final wild card spot with eight games left, has dominated this matchup recently, winning six of their last seven against the struggling Ducks who've dropped four of their last five road games.
Both teams bring anemic offenses to the ice - Calgary ranks 31st in goals-for (2.6 per game) while Anaheim isn't much better at 26th (2.7) - suggesting we might see a defensive battle with the UNDER hitting in six of their last nine meetings.
Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau, both with 58 points this season, will look to spark the Flames' attack while the Ducks counter with Troy Terry (51 points) and a trio of 20-goal scorers in Mason McTavish, Frank Vatrano, and Leo Carlsson.
The goaltending edge likely belongs to Calgary's Dustin Wolf (24-16-6, 2.67 GAA, .909 save percentage) who's provided stability between the pipes for the Flames all season long.
Calgary's desperation factor can't be overlooked - they're fighting for their playoff lives while Anaheim sits on the verge of elimination, trailing the final wild card spot by 12 points with just eight games remaining.
Look for MacKenzie Weegar, Calgary's defensive anchor who leads the team with a +13 plus/minus rating, to play significant minutes as the Flames try to shut down Anaheim's limited offensive weapons.
This matchup feels like a must-win situation for the Flames if they want to keep their postseason aspirations alive, especially considering their historical home success against these Ducks.
Calgary Flames vs. Anaheim Ducks form
Calgary Flames vs. Anaheim Ducks head to head
Calgary Flames
83%
Anaheim Ducks
17%
Jan 31, 2025
Calgary Flames
4 : 1
Anaheim Ducks
Jan 8, 2025
Anaheim Ducks
2 : 3
Calgary Flames
Apr 13, 2024
Anaheim Ducks
3 : 6
Calgary Flames
Apr 3, 2024
Calgary Flames
3 : 5
Anaheim Ducks
Dec 22, 2023
Anaheim Ducks
0 : 3
Calgary Flames
Apr 3, 2023
Calgary Flames
5 : 4
Anaheim Ducks
