5 things – Flames @ Ducks

1. The last time is over

It's the final Friday of the 2023-24 regular season, and the Flames will spend it in Anaheim in search of a happy ending to their three-game California road trip.

After a 3-2 overtime win in San Jose three nights ago, Calgary lost 4-1 in Los Angeles on Thursday — Jonathan Huberdeau's deflection was the Flames' lone offensive effort against a two-man boosted Kings team. striker Viktor Arvidsson's goal.

It's back to work tonight, and it's also a chance to avenge the setback at the hands of the Ducks a week and a half ago at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Tonight's contest is the final series of the three-game season, with both sides looking to win back-to-back games at the opponent's home ground.

It is expected to be an important evening for both clubs.

Calgary's Nazem Kadri will skate in his 900th career NHL game, while Anaheim's Jakob Silfverberg will play in his final game at the Honda Center after 11 seasons (more on those two milestones below).

For the Flames, Thursday's game in Los Angeles went the way of the host Kings, but head coach Ryan Huska's squad regained some momentum in the third period by playing at the pace that has led them to success all season. .

“In the third period, I thought we were going to skate,” he said after the race. “We had a lot more zone time than we did the first two rounds, but I think a lot of that (Thursday's loss) came down to the competitive side.”

Players and coaches have recently been focused on building the identity that will take them into the 2024-25 campaign, and with four games left on the calendar, the time to put those habits into practice is nigh.

Huberdeau's goal brought some spark to the group, but the veteran striker was ready to put Thursday's loss behind him when he met the media after the game in LA tonight.

“Throw this in the trash,” he said. “Come back (Friday) and be better.

“On the flip side, of course, it's nice to turn the page. We have four more games – we have to do our best.”