Game report: Ducks 5, Flames 3

A suitable bounce-back effort for the Anaheim Ducks as they opened this stretch of seven home games in eight with a resounding thumping of Calgary thanks to a monstrous night from the first line and a pair of franchise record performances. Perry’s three point night (he had an assist as well) was the second such performance of the season, having dished three assists in the 4-2 win over Columbus on November 6. The Ducks captain tied his career highs in points and assists with his first five-assist game since October 29, 2008. Calgary has a young team but some very skilled players at that and will need to be firing on all cylinders as Anaheim has turned their slow start around and is starting to look like the team that was favoured to win the Stanley Cup in the preseason.

“It’s just the inconsistency in our game”, said Getzlaf, who has one goal and eight assists in 17 games. Defenseman Cam Fowler began the scoring sequence by retrieving a loose puck after Flames center Josh Jooris slipped and fell in Anaheim’s zone.

Third Period_6, Anaheim, Rakell 5 (Perry, Getzlaf), 1:52.

So far this season, Kesler is continuing to show that he is on the decline in his career with only one goal and seven points in 21 games. Frederik Andersen was a pregame scratch after heading to the doctor with flu-like symptoms earlier in the day. Among AHL goaltenders, Gibson ranked first in saves (374) and tied for sixth in wins.

Arizona (10-9-1) is returning for three at home after a 1-3-0 road trip that ended with Saturday’s 3-2 loss in Winnipeg.

Johnny Gaudreau scored in overtime in Friday’s 2-1 win against Chicago as Calgary improved to 5-1 in overtime and shootouts compared to 3-12 in regulation.

Less than 11 minutes into the game, Calgary had a 2-0 lead and Boudreau was turning to John Gibson after Gibson was called up from San Diego of the American Hockey League because of Andersen’s illness. Benn assisted on Tyler Seguin’s goal.

Mike Smith will start in net Wednesday against the Ducks. 910 mark. Smith has either been quite good, or remarkably poor, with almost as many appearances with a better than-.950 SV% (4) as sub-.850 SV% (5).

The Ducks lost despite a 30-24 advantage in shots, and have a dead-even margin on the season.