The Anaheim Ducks and Calgary Flames are set to face off on April 3, 2025, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in what will be a critical game for the host Flames and a pride-driven opportunity for the visiting Ducks. As the NHL regular season approaches its conclusion, the Flames are fighting to stay alive in the Western Conference playoff race, sitting just outside the final wild-card spot and in dire need of two points to keep pace. With a 35-27-12 record, Calgary enters this game under pressure, knowing every win counts if they hope to punch their ticket to the postseason. Anaheim, on the other hand, comes in with a 33-33-8 record, out of playoff contention but still eager to test themselves against a team with something on the line. For a young Ducks squad, matchups like this offer valuable development time, and the chance to play spoiler adds a level of motivation and unpredictability to what might otherwise be a routine late-season contest. From a stylistic perspective, this game features two very different teams. Calgary’s game is built on structure, veteran leadership, and special teams execution. The Flames are led offensively by Nazem Kadri, who has put together a strong campaign with 30 goals and 28 assists, often setting the pace for the team’s top line and anchoring the power play. Behind him, Jonathan Huberdeau brings a playmaking presence that’s vital to Calgary’s zone entries and puck distribution on the man advantage. Calgary’s defensive core is solid and reliable, with Chris Tanev and Rasmus Andersson anchoring the back end, playing heavy minutes and keeping things tight in front of goaltender Jacob Markström. Markström himself has been steady in goal, providing timely saves and veteran poise in high-stress moments, which will be key in a game where the Flames are expected to dominate possession and play from ahead.

The Flames’ special teams continue to be a difference-maker; their power play is dangerous when given opportunities, and their penalty kill ranks well across the league, making it difficult for opponents to build momentum when on the man advantage. The Ducks come into this game looking to shake off recent inconsistency and continue evaluating young players as they prepare for the future. Frank Vatrano has been a key offensive contributor, leading the team with 20 goals and showcasing his ability to generate chances with his shot and positioning. Anaheim’s younger players like Mason McTavish and Olen Zellweger will be under the spotlight as the coaching staff assesses their readiness for larger roles moving forward. Defensively, the Ducks have struggled to maintain structure, which will be particularly dangerous against a playoff-caliber team like Calgary that thrives on breakdowns and capitalizing on turnovers. Anaheim’s goaltending has had moments of brilliance but has often been overburdened by defensive lapses, forcing netminders to face high shot volumes and dangerous scoring chances. Special teams remain an area of concern for the Ducks, with both their power play and penalty kill ranking in the bottom third of the league. For Anaheim to compete, they’ll need a near-perfect effort—strong goaltending, discipline to stay out of the box, and opportunistic finishing on any chances they get. While the Flames will be favored, especially on home ice with playoff stakes in the balance, the Ducks have enough offensive talent and youthful unpredictability to make this a challenging and potentially trap-style game for the hosts. Expect the Flames to play with urgency and intensity, but if they underestimate the Ducks, Anaheim may be able to catch them off guard and play spoiler in a high-pressure divisional showdown.