Game Holds Key to Playoff Position

The outcome of the Mighty Ducks’ regular-season finale against Calgary tonight will determine whether the two teams will face off again in a few days in a first-round playoff series, or whether the Ducks drop from sixth to seventh in the playoff seedings and draw the second-seeded Dallas Stars.

The Ducks hold a one-point edge over Colorado for sixth. To remain sixth, which would match them against the third-seeded Flames, the following must happen:

* The Ducks win tonight

* Or Colorado loses in regulation time at Edmonton

* Or the Ducks lose in overtime tonight and Colorado loses in overtime at Edmonton.

Should the Ducks lose tonight in overtime and the Avalanche win, each team would have 97 points. However, the Avalanche would have more wins and get an edge on the first tiebreaker. In that case, the Avalanche would be sixth and the Ducks seventh.

The Ducks have never faced Calgary in the playoffs. They’ve faced Dallas once, defeating the Stars in six games in the second round in 2003. They’re 2-5-1 against Dallas this season.

The playoffs are expected to start Friday, although some teams won’t open until Saturday because of arena conflicts and TV scheduling. The NHL isn’t expected to release a schedule until after the final games are played, on Tuesday night.

*

TONIGHT

vs. Calgary, 7:30, FSN Prime Ticket

Site -- Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim.

Radio -- 1540.

Records -- Ducks 42-27-12, Flames 46-24-11.

Record vs. Flames -- 1-2.

Update -- The Ducks didn’t practice Sunday, and a team spokesman said no word was available on the condition of winger Todd Fedoruk, who couldn’t finish Saturday’s game at San Jose because of back spasms. The Ducks have lost three consecutive games, scoring only four goals in that span. The Flames have won seven of their last 10, with the only defeats coming in shootouts. Calgary goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff leads the NHL with a 2.07 goals-against average and 10 shutouts.