Three takeaways as Flames show improvement in loss to Ducks

Calgary, Alberta - In their first three road games of the season, the Anaheim Ducks secured a 4-2 victory over the host Calgary Flames on Saturday. The Ducks' centre, Ryan Poehling, scored the decisive short-handed goal in the 5:35 mark of the third period. However, he sustained an injury during the play, as he collided with the goalpost while skating for the goal. Poehling, who also provided an assist, did not return to the game.

Jackson Lacombe, Frank Vatrano, and Nikita Nesterenko scored for the Ducks, while Morgan Frost and Aydar Suniev netted the goals for Calgary. The Ducks' goalie, Ville Husso, made 27 saves and was playing his first start of the season. Calgary opened the season with a 5-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, marking their first five-game losing streak of the season.

Matt Coronato, the Flames' captain, contributed two assists in the loss. Dustin Wolf, the Flames' goalie, conceded 24 shots. The game was tied at 2-2 heading into the third period, as the Flames failed to capitalize on three power-play opportunities before the halfway point of the period. Poehling scored the Ducks' short-handed goal on Calgary's second chance.

Nesterenko scored Anaheim's fourth goal at 17:03 during a goal-mouth scramble. Suniev assisted the goal with a sharp-angled shot off Husso's skate, tying the score 2-2 at 17:54 in the second period. Anaheim's successful offside challenge earlier in the period resulted in Vatrano's tip leading to the Ducks' 2-1 lead with 45 seconds left in the first period.

Lacombe scored the game's opening goal seconds into an Anaheim power play at 10:02. Cutter Gauthier of the Flames left the game with an upper-body injury and did not return.