DUCKS (17-12-7) at FLAMES (19-16-2)
9 p.m. ET; SN360, PRIME, NHL.TV
Ducks team scope
The Anaheim Ducks are expected to split up forwards Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry against the Calgary Flames on Thursday. Perry has one assist and Getzlaf has one goal and two assists in the past six games. "They're still in our top-three scorers on our hockey club, and there's been a lot made of what they're not doing," coach Randy Carlyle said. "We still think they're pretty good players and they can make a complement to our offensive side. I don't think it's all doom and gloom when people talk about when we move people around." The Ducks lead the Flames by one point for third place in the Pacific Division but lost 8-3 in Calgary on Dec. 4. "It's definitely something that's in the back of our minds," defenseman Cam Fowler said. "We were embarrassed in that game. We can use that as a little motivation tonight, but there shouldn't be much added motivation. This is a divisional game against a good opponent." Fowler is expected to be paired with Brandon Montour, who could make his NHL debut in place of defenseman Sami Vatanen, who won't play because of an illness. Montour, 22, has 21 points in 25 games with San Diego of the American Hockey League this season. "There's going to be a lot of emotions," Montour said. "I grew up playing and this is what I grew up playing for. It's my first game. I'm going to be flying out there. I'm going to be excited."
Flames team scope
Forward Mikael Backlund is expected to play after sustaining an injury in a 6-3 win against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday. Backlund did not return to the game after blocking a shot by Matt Duchene on a penalty kill late in the second period and missed practice Wednesday. "It feels better today," Backlund said. "I felt pretty good yesterday too. It feels good. I was relieved the X-ray was negative." Backlund has four goals and seven points in his past four games, including back-to-back three-point games for the first time in the NHL. "It's nice that he's going and he's consistent every day," goaltender Chad Johnson said. "He's a two-way player who can do it all. It's nice that he's getting rewarded and getting goals and getting points. We need him in the lineup." The Flames will be without forward Troy Brouwer, who is week to week after breaking a finger against the Vancouver Canucks on Dec. 23. "Guys step up and fill roles and bring different attributes," Johnson said. "Whoever is in the lineup is going to have to do what they do and try not to be Troy Brouwer, because he's hard to replace." Johnson is expected to start against the Ducks in what coach Glen Gulutzan called an important divisional game. "The time of year, how close we are together in the standings, what's happened previous, all those things come into play," he said. "That's why I think fans are going to see a real good hockey game tonight."
Ducks projected lineup
Andrew Cogliano -- Ryan Kesler -- Jakob Silfverberg
Nick Ritchie -- Ryan Getzlaf -- Ondrej Kase
Rickard Rakell -- Antoine Vermette -- Corey Perry
Joseph Cramarossa -- Logan Shaw -- Jared Boll
Cam Fowler -- Brandon Montour
Hampus Lindholm -- Josh Manson
Korbinian Holzer -- Kevin Bieksa
Scratched: Shea Theodore
Injured: Nate Thompson (Achilles), Simon Despres (concussion symptoms), Clayton Stoner (lower body), Sami Vatanen (illness)
Flames projected lineup
Kris Versteeg -- Sean Monahan -- Micheal Ferland
Johnny Gaudreau -- Sam Bennett -- Alex Chiasson
Matthew Tkachuk -- Mikael Backlund -- Michael Frolik
Lance Bouma -- Matt Stajan -- Garnet Hathaway
Mark Giordano -- Dougie Hamilton
Jyrki Jokipakka -- Deryk Engelland
Chad Johnson
Scratched: Tyler Wotherspoon, Freddie Hamilton
Injured: Ladislav Smid (neck), Troy Brouwer (finger)
Status report
The Ducks and Flames each held an optional morning skate. ... Carlyle said he had a few decisions to make with his lineup, but Gibson will start in goal. Stoner had abdominal surgery Dec. 21 in Philadelphia and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. The Ducks assigned forward Stefan Noesen to San Diego on Thursday. ... Gulutzan said the Flames would make some game-time decisions with their lineup.
Who's hot
Silfverberg has goals in back-to-back games. …Tkachuk has one goal and four assists during a four-game point streak. Gaudreau has four goals and 14 points in 10 games since returning from a fractured finger Dec. 4.
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