The Ducks crossed the northern border en route to Calgary, where they’ll look to extend their winning streak to a season-high four games against the Flames on Thursday.
Of late, it’s been the Ducks who have singed and scorched opponents, having poured in 16 goals across their surge. That tied for the most goals they’ve scored in a three-game stretch since November 1995, when they piled up 17 goals in three games and 23 total across a four-game spree.
Mason McTavish, the NHL’s second star last week, also continued his recent rampage with a goal and an assist, and both of his linemates tallied as well. He has six goals and seven points in his past four games. In another flashback to the ‘90s, McTavish became the second player in Ducks lore to hit the 50-career-goal mark at age 21 or younger, with the first being legendary winger Paul Kariya.
“We’re more connected than ever right now,” McTavish told reporters. “All four lines are playing pretty well. We’re getting some bounces right now, and hopefully we can sustain it.”
While McTavish has been a driving force behind their uptick, the Ducks haven’t had to rely on one player, line or situation of late. They did all their damage at even strength in Tuesday’s 6-4 win in Seattle, but have invigorated a languid power play, converting at a 25% rate since the return of Trevor Zegras four games ago.
“We’ve had three or four guys at a time that have been confident,” Ryan Strome told reporters. “But I think right now, you’re seeing 10 to 12 guys every night within the forward group feeling really confident with the puck and making really good plays.”
The Ducks have also received contributions from their defense during this brief tear. Two different blue-liners scored in consecutive games for just the second time this season in wins over Nashville and Seattle. The Ducks had previously gotten goals from three different defensemen as part of a season-high four straight games with a goal by a rearguard between Nov. 15 and Nov. 22.
They’ll try to maintain the same intensity in Calgary, where the Flames fell 3-1 to the Washington Capitals on Tuesday. That represented a missed opportunity to move within a point of the Kings for the final Pacific Division playoff berth, though Calgary remained in a wild-card position Wednesday morning, a point up on the Vancouver Canucks.
Jonathan Huberdeau’s 36 points pace the Flames, representing the lowest total for a team leader in the NHL. They’ve leaned on California native and former Junior King Dustin Wolf, a rookie, between the pipes, and he has scintillated at home. His .933 save percentage at the Scotiabank Saddledome is the highest on home ice for any goalie with a dozen or more home starts and only Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck has a lower goals-against average among netminders with 12 or more home appearances.
Flames forward Connor Zary, who was injured in a knee-on-knee collision with Drew Helleson in Jan. 7’s overtime win against the Ducks, has not played since.
Ducks at Calgary
When: 6 p.m. PT Friday
Where: Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary
How to watch: Victory+, KCOP (Ch. 13)