Calgary Flames vs. Anaheim Ducks Prediction, Picks, Preview & Odds - 12/3/2021

Time: 10 p.m. ET

Venue: Honda Center, Anaheim, CA

Where to watch: Bally Sports West, SNP, SNO, SNE, SN1, ESPN+

DraftKings: Flames -125, Ducks +105

BetMGM: Flames -128, Ducks +105

Caesars: Flames -130, Ducks +110

Flames: 14-4-5 (1st place, Pacific Division)

Ducks: 13-8-3 (3rd place, Pacific Division)

Flames: won 3-2 at Kings on Thursday

Ducks: won 6-5 vs. Golden Knights on Wednesday

You are not to be blamed under any circumstances if you thought the Pacific Division was going to be a runaway at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights. Because of course literally anyone making more than $2 million on that team would get hurt and open the door.

The Calgary Flames and Anaheim Ducks have decided to be the ones to kick the door down and establish themselves as top teams in this suddenly competitive Pacific Division. They will meet Friday at Honda Center in what should be one of the more fun games of the weekend.

Despite having played two more games than the Edmonton Oilers, the Flames find themselves atop the Pacific Division with 33 points after winning 3-2 against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on Thursday. And if you've been following the Flames for even a millisecond, you know the road greatness that is Andrew Mangiapane scoring nearly all of his goals on the road.

It happened against the Kings, scoring his 15th goal away from Calgary this season -- he has 16 goals in the entire campaign -- as well as an assist to lead the Flames to victory. The Flames became the first team in the league to win 10 games on the road this season. It truly is a ridiculous accomplishment considering how much uncertainty faced the Flames.

We can get into the logistics later about what's to come with Johnny Gaudreau (who leads the Flames with 26 points), but what's gotten the Flames here is astounding goaltending -- Jennings-caliber, possibly -- between Jacob Markstrom and Dan Vladar. Markstrom, Calgary's big-time free agent signing last season, is off to a Vezina-caliber start and had a 40-save performance on Thursday while out dueling Cal Petersen.

Vladar, who is 4-0-1 in his first major backup role of his NHL career, is likely to get the start against John Gibson on Friday.

The Ducks are 6-4-0 in their last 10 and are coming off one hell of a win against the Vegas Golden Knights at home on Wednesday. Without Gibson (who started the night before in L.A.) and captain Ryan Getzlaf, six different Ducks scored, highlighted by Jamie Drysdale, while Trevor Zegras had three assists. Anthony Stolarz, who has been as instrumental as any in the Ducks' run in the Pacific, had 34 saves and made some key stops before nearly imploding in the third.

"We don't want to be a one-trick pony, that's for sure," Anaheim coach Dallas Eakins said. "We can't just have it from one of our defensemen, or two of our defensemen and one of our lines. We have to find a way to consistently have different people on that scoreboard."

Anaheim's rebuild is paying dividends quicker than anyone thought and it's led by the young guns of Zegras and Drysdale. Those two are the pillars for this franchise for the next 10-15 years, finally providing the help longed for by Gibson and Getzlaf.

"(Our forwards) are getting in front of the net," Ducks defenseman Josh Manson said. "Look at my (goal) tonight; [Zegras] is right there in front of the net, presenting a stick, and the goalie's got to be a little bit distracted and it goes off a skate and in."

If only it were that simple. Sometimes hockey is just an act of divine intervention. Just ask Troy Terry and his absurd run.

The Ducks are 20-4 against the spread this season and are getting the goal and a half as the underdog. For reasons unbeknownst to us all, the Flames are just this good on the road (10-2-2). If this somehow ends up a low-scoring game, I trust Calgary to get the job done against a young team still finding its way. Flames win 3-2

The Flames are 39-44 ATS in their last 83 against division opponents.

Despite winning the last two meetings at Honda Center, the Flames are 3-32 in their last 35 matchups at Anaheim.

The over is 21-5 in the Ducks’ last 26 against division opponents.

Johnny Gaudreau -- Elias Lindholm -- Matthew Tkachuk

Blake Coleman -- Mikael Backlund -- Andrew Mangiapane

Dillon Dube -- Sean Monahan -- Tyler Pitlick

Milan Lucic -- Brad Richardson -- Trevor Lewis

Noah Hanifin -- Rasmus Andersson

Oliver Kylington -- Christopher Tanev

Nikita Zadorov -- Erik Gudbranson

Dan Vladar

Adam Henrique -- Sam Steel -- Troy Terry

Sonny Milano -- Trevor Zegras -- Rickard Rakell

Vinni Lettieri -- Isac Lundestrom -- Jakob Silfverberg

Nicolas Deslauriers -- Derek Grant -- Sam Carrick

Hampus Lindholm -- Jamie Drysdale

Cam Fowler -- Josh Manson

Simon Benoit -- Kevin Shattenkirk

John Gibson

Points: Johnny Gaudreau – 26

Goals: Andrew Mangiapane – 16

Assists: Johnny Gaudreau – 17

TOI: Rasmus Andersson – 22:29

Goalie: Jacob Markstrom – 10-4-4, 1.76 GAA, .939 SV%

Points: Troy Terry – 25

Goals: Troy Terry – 15

Assists: Ryan Getzlaf – 19

TOI: Cam Fowler – 23:16

Goalie: John Gibson – 10-6-2, 2.68 GAA, .915 SV%