ARTHUR:
The OC Register reports that McElhinney is okay, though the paper confirms that the goaltender needed a zipper on the gash to his forehead.

The Ducks have seven games until their Christmas break, including a five game road trip.  Right now, the team is 21st in the league in terms of point percentage, sitting at the bottom of the list of teams playing .500 or better hockey.  It's also worth noting that, of the nine teams playing sub-.500 hockey, only two are from the Western Conference.  One of those teams is tonight's opponent, the Calgary Flames.

The Flames, indeed the NHL's entire Alberta delegation, are struggling this season, but not in the same way.  You could characterize the Edmonton team as young but still very dangerous.  Calgary's troubles are more akin to Anaheim's.  They just haven't found a consistent effort this year-- not that they've been shutout in back to back games or anything, but I suppose every team is entitled to struggle in its own way.  

So, with two wild cards taking the ice, tonight's game is like a box of chocolates.  I'm hoping for a rich, coconut oil infused truffle, but I'm equally prepared to chip my tooth on some fossilized caramel.

FOWL!