Letdown Is a Concern

The Ducks’ 5-1 victory Friday over the league-leading Dallas Stars did a great deal to boost their spirits. But Coach Craig Hartsburg cautioned the team about a possible letdown tonight against the Calgary Flames.

“The key for us is to follow it up with another workmanlike effort against Calgary,” Hartsburg said. “We’ve struggled a bit. Now, we’ve got to come back with back-to-back games like that [high-tempo effort against Dallas]. If it’s just a one-game thing I don’t think it helps us a bit.”

The Ducks have been guilty of overlooking the Flames in the past. Calgary took full advantage of a lackluster Duck performance in the last game between the teams at the Arrowhead Pond and won, 2-1, Jan. 13.

The Flames also won the last game in Calgary, 6-3, Feb. 19.

“We can be as good as anybody in the league when we’re at our best,” Hartsburg said. “That’s usually when we’re a hard-working, tenacious team. When we’re not, we can be beaten by just about anybody.”

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Calgary is 7-4-1 since trading right wing Theoren Fleury to the Colorado Avalanche on Feb. 28.

“You’ve got to look at them as one of the top teams in the league right now,” Hartsburg said of the Flames. “They’ve accomplished a lot [without Fleury]. They’re a good team.”

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The playoff race has tightened considerably for the fifth to eighth spots in the Western Conference standings. But the Ducks’ postseason goals have not changed. They fully expect to play the Coyotes in a first-round matchup of the fourth- and fifth-place teams.

“Everyone’s pretty focused on finishing fifth,” goaltender Guy Hebert said. “We’re still trying to catch fourth. In the end, that’s still a great matchup against Phoenix. It’s a great game every time we play each other. It’s such a great matchup.”

TONIGHT

vs. Calgary, 7

Channel 9

* Site--Arrowhead Pond.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 32-28-11, Flames 28-33-11.

* Record vs. Flames--1-2.

* Update--Center Steve Rucchin skated on his own for about 30 minutes Saturday, but it remains uncertain when he will be fit enough to practice or play. Rucchin, sidelined two games because of a groin strain, probably won’t play tonight. It’s more likely Rucchin will return to the lineup Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils. Teemu Selanne has five goals in his last three games and leads the NHL with 42. With Fleury gone to Colorado, the Flames’ leading scorer is veteran defenseman Phil Housley, who has 50 points (10 goals, 40 assists).

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* Tickets--(714) 740-2000.