Morgan Frost Scored Twice and the Ducks Still Lost: Calgary's 5-3 Upset Just Ended Anaheim's Playoff Hopes

The Anaheim Ducks had one job on Saturday night at Honda Center: stay in the Pacific Division hunt. They failed spectacularly. Morgan Frost lit them up for two goals, leading the visiting Calgary Flames to a 5-3 upset that leaves the Ducks winless in their last five games and watching their season slip away.

The Flames (32-36-8, 72 points) snapped a two-game losing streak with this statement win, and they did it the hard way. Goaltender Devin Cooley was absolutely locked in, stopping 36 shots while Calgary's offense did enough damage to put this one away. Frost's second goal, an empty-netter with 71 seconds left, sealed a night the Ducks will want to forget.

How Calgary Built the Lead That Anaheim Couldn't Catch

Beckett Sennecke opened the scoring for the Ducks early, burying his 23rd goal of the season to lead all rookies. But that was the last time Anaheim would feel good about themselves. Joel Farabee tied it at 13:24 of the first with a breakaway goal set up by Matvei Gridin's long pass, and Calgary never looked back.

Ryan Strome, making his first appearance in Anaheim since being traded to Calgary at the deadline, made it personal. Just 80 seconds into the second period, he slid home another breakaway to make it 2-1 and reached his 500th career point in the process. Strome has been clutch since joining the Flames, collecting five goals and 11 points in 15 games.

Gridin extended it to 3-1 when he created a turnover at his own blueline and finished a 2-on-1 with Farabee. Then Frost struck at 18:44 of the second on the power play's heels, tucking home a forehand shot that marked his first career 20-goal season. That was the dagger.

The Comeback That Nearly Worked, Then Didn't

Leo Carlsson found the mark off the rush at 7:49 of the third period, and Mason McTavish fired a top-corner shot from the right circle to make it suddenly competitive again, 121 seconds later. For a moment, Anaheim looked dangerous. But Frost's empty-netter with 71 seconds left ended any comeback dreams.

The Ducks (41-31-5, 87 points) squandered a chance to reclaim the top spot in the Pacific Division. Ville Husso stopped 15 shots but it wasn't enough. Anaheim is winless in five now. That's not a slump. That's a collapse.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.