Ducks keep it close, but can’t overcome the Flames in latest loss

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  • Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz allows a goal by Calgary Flames center Elias Lindholm during the first period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

  • Calgary Flames center Elias Lindholm, left, celebrates with left wing Matthew Tkachuk after scoring during the first period of their game against the Ducks on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

  • The Calgary Flames’ Elias Lindholm is congratulated at the bench after scoring a goal during the first period of their game against the Ducks on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

  • Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler, left, controls the puck as Calgary Flames center Dillon Dube defends during the first period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

  • Calgary Flames center Mikael Backlund, left, and Ducks defenseman Jamie Drysdale reach for the puck during the first period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

  • Ducks defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, right, stops a shot by Calgary Flames center Adam Ruzicka during the first period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

  • Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom stops a shot by Ducks left wing Sonny Milano (12) during the first period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

  • The Ducks’ Jamie Drysdale controls the puck past the defense of the Calgary Flames’ Elias Lindholm during the first period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. The Ducks stayed within striking distance before falling, 4-2, their 13th loss in 14 games. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

  • Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom, left, and Christopher Tanev, right, defend against the Ducks’ Troy Terry during the first period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

  • The Calgary Flames’ Johnny Gaudreau looks on during the first period of their game against the Ducks on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

  • The Ducks’ Jamie Drysdale skates with the puck during the first period of their game against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

  • The Ducks’ Sonny Milano splits the defense of the Calgary Flames’ Erik Gudbranson, left, and Dillon Dube during the first period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

  • Ducks center Derek Grant skates to the puck ahead of Calgary Flames center Elias Lindholm during the second period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

  • The Calgary Flames’ Tyler Toffoli scores a goal past Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz and Ducks defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (22) during the second period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

  • The Calgary Flames’ Tyler Toffoli scores a goal past Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz during the second period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

  • The Calgary Flames’ Andrew Mangiapane and Mikael Backlund, right, congratulate Tyler Toffoli, center, after his goal during the second period of their game against the Ducks on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

  • Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz talks with referee Ghislain Hebert after being scored on by the Calgary Flames’ Tyler Toffoli #73 of the Calgary Flames during the second period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

  • Calgary Flames right wing Tyler Toffoli celebrates with teammates after scoring during the second period of their game against the Ducks on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

  • The Ducks’ Cam Fowler controls the puck and skates past the Calgary Flames’ Johnny Gaudreau during the second period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

  • Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz, lying down, and teammate Sam Steel defend against the Calgary Flames’ Matthew Tkachuk (19) and Johnny Gaudreau (13) during the second period of their game against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

  • Ducks left wing Max Comtois controls the puck against Calgary Flames center Elias Lindholm (28) and defenseman Noah Hanifin, right, during the second period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

  • Ducks center Adam Henrique shoots during the second period of their game against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

  • Ducks center Trevor Zegras, left, celebrates with center Vinni Lettieri after scoring during the second period of their game against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

  • The Ducks’ Trevor Zegras, left, is congratulated at the bench after scoring a goal during the second period of their game against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

  • Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz blocks a shot on goal by the Calgary Flames’ Blake Coleman during the second period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

  • Ducks defenseman Jamie Drysdale shoots during the second period of their game against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

  • The Calgary Flames’ Matthew Tkachuk, right, checks the Ducks’ Trevor Zegras at the faceoff circle during the third period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

  • The Ducks’ Kevin Shattenkirk controls the puck as the Calgary Flames’ Blake Coleman defends during the third period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

  • Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz watches as Calgary Flames defenseman Michael Stone scores a goal during the third period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

  • Calgary Flames defenseman Michael Stone, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring during the third period of their game against the Ducks on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

  • The Calgary Flames’ Michael Stone is congratulated at the bench after scoring a goal during the third period of their game against the Ducks on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

  • Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz puts on his mask during the third period of their game against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

  • The Calgary Flames’ Mikael Backlund, left, pushes the Ducks’ Troy Terry during the third period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

  • The Calgary Flames’ Mikael Backlund, left, pushes the Ducks’ Troy Terry during the third period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

  • The Ducks’ Cam Fowler controls the puck as the Calgary Flames’ Blake Coleman defends during the third period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

  • The Ducks’ Adam Henrique, left, celebrates his goal as teammate Sonny Milano looks on during the third period of their game against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

  • Ducks center Adam Henrique celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the third period of their game against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

  • Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom takes a drink of water after a goal by the Ducks’ Adam Henrique during the third period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

  • Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz stop a shot by Calgary Flames center Elias Lindholm during the third period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

  • The Calgary Flames’ Michael Stone holds down the Ducks’ Trevor Zegras during the third period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

  • The Calgary Flames’ Matthew Tkachuk, left, checks the Ducks’ Trevor Zegras at the faceoff circle during the third period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

  • Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz stops a shot by Calgary Flames left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) during the third period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

  • Calgary Flames left wing Matthew Tkachuk, right, scores an empty-net goal against the Ducks during the third period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

  • The Calgary Flames left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) hugs goaltender Jacob Markstrom as they celebrate a 4-2 victory over the Ducks on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

  • Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom, left, is congratulated by teammates after their 4-2 victory over the Ducks on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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ANAHEIM — The Ducks took the Honda Center ice with good intentions against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. The Ducks were no match for the Flames on paper, trailing the Pacific Division leaders by 23 points in the standings and heading for a fourth consecutive early vacation.

But since they don’t play the games on paper but on ice, the Ducks weren’t exactly pushovers. Playing with nothing to lose, skating purposefully and matching the Flames’ speed and skill, the Ducks stayed within striking distance before falling, 4-2, their 13th loss in 14 games.

“We hate losing here,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said. “It doesn’t feel good and it eats you. The ‘but’ for me is that I’m proud of how we played. We played hard. We created enough chances to score more goals. We didn’t get rewarded. (Flames goalie Jacob) Markstrom was excellent.”

Calgary built a two-goal lead by the midway point of the second period thanks to two bolts of lightning that seemed to come out of nowhere and put the Flames into a position to win their second in a row after a three-game winless streak (0-2-1). There wasn’t much the Ducks could do about either.

Johnny Gaudreau set up the Flames’ first goal with a pass into the slot from behind the net, and Elias Lindholm ripped a shot past Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz for a 1-0 lead. Then, Tyler Toffoli scored off the rush for a 2-0 lead, after the Ducks generated pressure at the other end.

Then, with the second period winding down, the Ducks cut their deficit in half thanks to Trevor Zegras’ 18th goal of the season and his 51st point. It was nothing fancy, but a simple spin-and-shoot that eluded Markstrom at 18:11 of the second, giving the Ducks a jolt of energy.

From the start, the Ducks were determined to get to the front of the Flames’ net and create havoc in front of Markstrom. Their lack of scoring touch proved to be a fatal flaw, however. They skated into the high-danger areas. They delivered the puck there and even got their shots away.

They scored only twice, however.

Stolarz started in place of John Gibson, who was in goal for all six of the Edmonton Oilers’ goals in a 6-1 loss on Sunday. Stolarz had little chance on either of the first two Calgary goals, then Michael Stone fired a perimeter shot past him for a 3-1 lead at 10:28 of the third.

Adam Henrique’s power-play goal cut it to 3-2 moments later. Matthew Tkachuk, taking a break from chasing (and cross-checking and holding) Zegras around the ice, sealed the deal with an empty-net goal. Any hopes the Ducks’ had of a comeback attempt ended with 35 seconds to play.

Facing an all-star pest like Tkachuk was a good experience for Zegras, according to Eakins, another learning experience in what’s been a standout rookie season for the 21-year-old center. After all, Zegras wouldn’t warrant such close attention if he wasn’t playing such a strong game.

“Someone talking to you or giving you an extra shot shouldn’t have any effect on your game, but it’s very easy to let it,” Eakins said. “It goes down to choices. Am I going to let this guy – and I’m not talking about Tkachuk, just to be very clear – because there are all kinds of players who talk a lot and they try to get under your skin.

“That’s their game. You have to make a choice. Are you going to let that get you off your game? It should have no effect on your game. Them checking you hard and closing on you hard, them denying you the middle of the ice – that’s what has an effect on your game.”

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