The Anaheim Ducks showcased their offensive depth and resilient goaltending Friday night, fending off the Calgary Flames for a 5-3 victory at Scotiabank Saddledome. Leo Carlsson set the pace with a goal and an assist, steering Anaheim through a tight battle in the 2026-27 NHL Regular Season.
Anaheim found timely contributions across the lineup to offset the absence of several regular contributors. Cutter Gauthier and Jeff Malott each delivered crucial goals, providing the offensive cushion needed to hold off Calgary down the stretch in an intense, two-goal contest.
The decisive moment
With Calgary pushing to erase the deficit, Ville Husso entered the game and shut the door completely on the Flames' attack. Husso turned aside all 10 shots he faced, steadying the Ducks during high-pressure sequences in the defensive zone. That flawless relief performance allowed Anaheim to preserve their narrow lead and seal the 5-3 road win.
By the numbers
- Leo Carlsson: 1 goal, 1 assist, leading Anaheim's offensive attack.
- Ville Husso: 10 saves on 10 shots against, allowing zero goals in relief.
- Cutter Gauthier: 1 goal, capitalizing on his scoring chance.
- Jeff Malott: 1 goal, bolstering Anaheim's secondary scoring.
- 2: Final margin of victory in Anaheim's hard-fought road performance.
Anaheim's clinical finishing made the difference in an evenly matched contest where high-danger opportunities were at a premium.
What it means
The victory provides a significant boost for Anaheim as the squad navigates through notable roster adversity during the 2026-27 NHL Regular Season. Mike Matheson remained sidelined with a lower-body ailment, while Josh Anderson missed out due to personal reasons and Ian Moore continued his stay on injured reserve. Overcoming those lineup scratches on the road highlights the organization's depth and tactical discipline.
For Calgary, the setback underscores the lingering difficulty of containing dynamic transition attacks. Dropping a two-goal decision on home ice leaves the Flames searching for greater defensive consistency and tighter gap control against opportunistic offenses.
What to watch next
Anaheim aims to build on this resilient performance as they integrate their youthful core deeper into demanding road tests. Meanwhile, Calgary must tighten coverage in their defensive third and discover answers when trailing late in tightly contested games.