DUCKS at FLAMES
10 p.m. ET; USA, CBC, TVA Sports, PRIME
Anaheim leads best-of-7 series 3-0
CALGARY -- The Anaheim Ducks can advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a win in Game 4 of their Western Conference First Round best-of-7 series against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome on Wednesday.
The Ducks won Games 1 and 2 at Honda Center each by a 3-2 score, and won a playoff game for the first time in franchise history when trailing by three goals in a 5-4 overtime victory in Game 3 here on Monday.
Anaheim is seeking its fifth sweep in history and first since defeating the Winnipeg Jets in the first round in 2015.
Here are 5 keys for Game 4:
1. Finish the job
The Ducks, who are 16-9 all-time in Game 4's, their best winning percentage (.640) of any game in a seven-game series, aren't underselling the importance of finishing off the Flames with their first opportunity.
"I know it sounds cliche but it is the hardest (to win)," forward Nate Thompson said. "The team on the other side is desperate. It's the biggest game of the year. They have a chance to keep this series going and we have a chance to close it out.
"I think whenever you have a chance to close a series out you want to. This is a huge opportunity for us and it's a huge opportunity for them. It's going to be a battle out there."
2. Big belief
Only four of the 184 teams to trail 3-0 in a series have come back to win: the Los Angeles Kings (2014), the Philadelphia Flyers (2010), the New York Islanders (1975) and the Toronto Maple Leafs (1942).
However, the Flames aren't short on confidence.
"Belief is an extremely powerful weapon," forward Troy Brouwer said. "We've had it on our team all season long. We've pulled ourselves out of some holes early on in the season, were able to put ourselves in a playoff spot and at one point we were contending for home ice.
"It's one thing that we have written all over this room. It's one thing guys truly put a lot of emphasis on."
3. Goaltending rebounds
Ducks goaltender John Gibson was pulled in Game 3 after allowing four goals on 16 shots, and has a 3.22 goals against average and .906 save percentage in three starts. Flames goaltender Brian Elliott allowed five goals on 27 shots in Game 3, and has a 3.67 goals against average and .887 save percentage in three starts.
Each is expected to be in net again.
"Every decision was scrutinized and analyzed and looked over and talked about with everybody in the organization, looking at game tape with all the coaches," Flames coach Glen Gulutzan said. "We looked at everything as tough as we could and made our decisions."
4. Shea Theodore shines
Theodore has become a catalyst on defense for Anaheim, which has been without Cam Fowler (lower body) for the series and Sami Vatanen (upper body) since Game 1. Theodore leads all players in the series with five points (two goals, three assists).
"I feel like I'm starting to get more comfortable and start playing my game," Theodore said. "A couple lucky bounces here and there have been going in, but I'm just going to try to keep it going."
5. Fresh enthusiasm
After each was a healthy scratch for the first three games of the series, forwards Curtis Lazar and Freddie Hamilton will play for the Flames.
"I feel like I've been playing in every game," said Lazar, who had three points in four games after being acquired by Calgary from the Ottawa Senators on March 1. "Just sitting in the room, being emotionally into it just watching through the TV and stuff. You care so much.
"You play for keeps. It's the best time of year. I've been patient and I'm real excited for this opportunity."
Ducks projected lineup
Rickard Rakell -- Ryan Getzlaf -- Patrick Eaves
Andrew Cogliano -- Ryan Kesler -- Jakob Silfverberg
Nick Ritchie -- Antoine Vermette -- Corey Perry
Chris Wagner -- Nate Thompson -- Logan Shaw
Hampus Lindholm -- Brandon Montour
Shea Theodore -- Kevin Bieksa
Korbinian Holzer -- Josh Manson
John Gibson
Scratched: Jared Boll, Clayton Stoner, Ondrej Kase
Injured: Cam Fowler (lower body), Sami Vatanen (upper body)
Flames projected lineup
Johnny Gaudreau -- Sean Monahan -- Micheal Ferland
Matthew Tkachuk -- Mikael Backlund -- Michael Frolik
Kris Versteeg -- Sam Bennett -- Alex Chiasson
Freddie Hamilton -- Curtis Lazar -- Troy Brouwer
Mark Giordano -- Dougie Hamilton
Matt Bartkowski -- Deryk Engelland
Brian Elliott
Scratched: Lance Bouma, Matt Stajan, Dennis Wideman, Jon Gillies
Injured: None
Status report
Vatanen participated in the morning skate but will not play, Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. … Bouma and Stajan will come out of the lineup for Freddie Hamilton and Lazar.
Who's hot
Perry is two goals from tying Teemu Selanne (35) for the most in Ducks playoff history, and is the fourth Anehiem player to score two overtime playoff goals (Nick Bonino, Paul Kariya, Scott Niedermayer). … Getzlaf and Rakell each have two goals and two assists in four games. … Monahan is the first Flames player to score in each of the first three games of a series since Doug Gilmour (1989 Smythe Division Final). … Brodie has four assists in three games. … Versteeg has three points (one goal, two assists) in three games.
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