Flames Look to Salvage Final Game of Homestand Against Surging Ducks
Four games into a five-game homestand, the Calgary Flames find themselves in a tough spot. After kicking things off with a strong win over the Islanders, the wheels have come off a bit.
They've dropped three straight, and the offense has gone quiet-just three goals in those losses. Now, with the Anaheim Ducks rolling into town, Calgary’s got one more chance to end this stretch on a high note.
Puck drops Sunday evening at 6 p.m. MT on Sportsnet West and Sportsnet 960 The Fan.
Flames’ Projected Lineup
According to Daily Faceoff and Sportsnet’s Pat Steinberg, the Flames are shaking things up a bit:
Forwards
- Connor Zary - Nazem Kadri - Martin Pospisil
- Jonathan Huberdeau - Morgan Frost - Matvei Gridin
- Yegor Sharangovich - Mikael Backlund - Matt Coronato
- Joel Farabee - Justin Kirkland - Adam Klapka
Defense
- Yan Kuznetsov - MacKenzie Weegar
- Kevin Bahl - Zach Whitecloud
- Joel Hanley - Hunter Brzustewicz
Goaltenders
- Starting: Dustin Wolf
- Backup: Devin Cooley
Extras: Brayden Pachal, Ryan Lomberg
The top line of Zary-Kadri-Pospisil is a familiar trio that’s had some chemistry in the past, and head coach Ryan Huska is clearly hoping it can spark something offensively. Huberdeau and Frost are getting another look together, while Backlund and Coronato-another old pairing-are back in action. The fourth line is more of a mix-and-match group, but it’s clear the Flames are trying to find any combination that clicks right now.
Since the calendar flipped to 2026, Calgary’s gone 3-7-1. That includes a three-game skid following the trade that sent Rasmus Andersson out of town.
The biggest concern? Scoring.
The Flames have just three goals in those three losses, and the offense has looked out of sync. They know the formula that works-fast pace, aggressive forecheck, tight defensive structure-but they haven’t been able to string it together consistently.
Two players to watch closely: Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau. Both are key offensive drivers for this team, and both have been quiet lately. If the Flames are going to get back on track, they need those two to lead the charge.
Ducks’ Projected Lineup
Anaheim’s coming in hot, and here’s how they’re expected to line up:
Forwards
- Alex Killorn - Mikael Granlund - Beckett Sennecke
- Chris Kreider - Jansen Harkins - Ryan Strome
- Jeffrey Veil - Ryan Poehling - Cutter Gauthier
- Ross Johnston - Tim Washe
Defense
- Jackson LaCombe - Jacob Trouba
- Pavel Mintyukov - Drew Helleson
- Olen Zellweger - Radko Gudas
Goaltenders
- Starting: Lukas Dostal
- Backup: Ville Husso
Extra skater: Sam Colangelo
The Ducks have been a tough team to figure out. They opened 2026 with five straight losses, but since then?
Six straight wins. That’s the kind of streaky play that makes them dangerous-especially when they’re on the upswing like they are now.
This game in Calgary is the first of a back-to-back set for Anaheim, with a trip to Edmonton lined up for Monday.
Injury Report
Flames Out:
- Sam Honzek
- Jake Bean
- John Beecher
- Zayne Parekh
- Blake Coleman
Ducks Out:
- Frank Vatrano
- Troy Terry
- Petr Mrazek
- Leo Carlsson
- Mason McTavish
The Matchup
This is the first of four meetings between Calgary and Anaheim this season. They’ll see each other again on March 1 (Anaheim), March 26 (Calgary), and April 4 (Anaheim). With both teams dealing with injuries and lineup shuffles, this first clash could set the tone for the rest of the season series.
For the Flames, this game is about more than just two points-it’s about finding their identity again. The Ducks are red-hot, but Calgary has the talent and structure to compete. The question is: will they bring the urgency and execution that’s been missing lately?
We’ll find out Sunday night.