Posts Bite Flames Again as Ducks Escape
The story was the metal. Calgary drove the night, but three pings off the frame told you where this was headed before the horn. They owned the better looks — their chances were worth more by expected goals (how dangerous the shots were), 4.40 to 3.14, and they had the edge in shot attempts — yet the finish never matched the build. The iron alone carried 1.57 xG, with Ryan Strome and Yan Kuznetsov each smashing a post for Calgary while Jeff Malott hit one for Anaheim.
The Flames had the right people pushing: Aydar Suniev produced a goal and a helper, Mikael Backlund led their individual chance quality, Yegor Sharangovich cashed one, and Strome peppered looks all night. But Lukas Dostal turned aside 32 and Anaheim made their few breaks count, including on the power play.
For an 0-5-0 team, this is process credit without points. That gap — strong creation, thin payoff — is why the pressure around Ryan Huska isn’t easing yet.