Fallen from the playoff race but now impacting it from below, the Ducks will face the still-flickering Calgary Flames tonight and then visit the Kings on Thursday night for this season’s final Freeway Faceoff.

Calgary is the last team with a true shot at unseating Minnesota for the final Western Conference wild-card berth, trailing the Wild by four points with a head-to-head match on deck Friday. The Flames also have a game in hand on the Wild, thanks to a matchup with the Kings that was rescheduled for April 17 amid January’s harrowing fires.

The Ducks actually helped the rival Kings on Monday when they beat the Oilers, 3-1, to take the season series from Edmonton. That kept the Kings four points ahead of Edmonton for second place in the Pacific Division and home-ice advantage in an increasingly likely series between two teams that squared off in each of the past three postseasons.

Monday, the Ducks’ Lukáš Dostál stopped 45 of 47 shots, including 23 in the third period, to break a tie with Pittsburgh’s Alex Nedeljkovic for the most 40-save performances in the NHL this season.

“He’s been our best player all season long, day-in and day-out,” said Cutter Gauthier, who scored two goals Monday. “Unfortunately, with (John Gibson) and the injuries he’s facing, (Dostál) has had to step up and play a lot. Every single night he’s been in for us, he’s done one heck of a job.”

Even the player who will soon be the highest-paid goalie in league history, Igor Shesterkin, has just three 40-save efforts this season for his Rangers. Dostál’s progress and ability to shoulder a starter’s workload have become evident, and at the right time, since he is in a contract year. He’s eligible to become an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent on July 1.

Dostál and agent Michael Deutsch have had contact with the Ducks and General Manager Pat Verbeek, but ultimately tabled negotiations for the offseason.

“We had some talks with Mike and Pat, but we all decided that we’re going to leave it for the summer,” Dostál said. “For me personally, I really wanted to make sure that I’m here to help the boys, and in a good head space.”

The Ducks will also have to look at a deal for a prominent non-arbitration-eligible RFA Mason McTavish, whose 21st goal of the season was the game-winner on Monday.

“He’s a potent forward. He has a great shot and he showed it again; he has a great one-timer, (too)” Dostál said. “We always have fun challenges in practice. He’s a great player. He’s the future of this organization, or part of the future.”

The Flames and Kings faced questions about their future as Calgary went into a reboot rather than a full-on rebuild, and the Kings’ own fast-tracked ride hit a huge speed bump last season, only to see them rebound this year.

The Flames’ impasse stemmed initially from 2024 Stanley Cup champ Matthew Tkachuk’s desire to be traded to a U.S. market and the late Johnny Gaudreau’s itch to be closer to his family on the East Coast. More departures followed, including Jacob Markstron, Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin and Andrei Kuzmenko.