The Ducks can vault past the Kings into first place in the Pacific Division with a victory Wednesday over the Calgary Flames, a regular-season outcome that’s been as close to a mortal lock at the Honda Center as there’s been in the franchise’s 23-year history.

After all, the Ducks haven’t lost to the Flames in Anaheim since Jan. 19, 2004, a streak that reached 22 consecutive games with a 5-2 victory Feb. 21. Extending the Flames’ run of futility wasn’t on the Ducks’ minds Tuesday, their first day back home after a five-game trip across Canada.

Finishing first and capturing their fourth consecutive division title wasn’t a major concern, either. Playing well, regaining the nearly unbeatable form that established them as the hottest team in the NHL after the Christmas break, was their goal for the regular season’s final seven games.

“On this trip, it was successful, but we weren’t as good as we would have liked to have been,” Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said of the team’s 3-1-1 mark against Winnipeg, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa and Edmonton, three teams that will be going fishing when the regular season ends.

“Getting back to playing really well, like we had been, is the main thing, so that when you do start the playoffs, you’re playing as good as can be,” he said. “Sometimes teams say, ‘Oh, we’ve got to get going.’ Some say it’s 10 games. Some say it’s 15. Some teams say, ‘Let’s play great in the last three games.’

“Last year, you heard me talk about how everybody’s got a different sense of urgency to their game. Let’s not forget our sense of urgency probably started Christmas Day, whereas last year it probably started April 5. It’s a big difference.”

The Ducks have home games remaining against the Flames, Vancouver Canucks, Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets before closing out the regular season with road contests against the Kings, Colorado Avalanche and Washington Capitals. The Kings and third-place San Jose Sharks have six games left.

Cogliano honored

Ducks left wing Andrew Cogliano was nominated for the Masterton Trophy by the Anaheim chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association. The award is given to “the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.”

Cogliano has nine goals and 27 points and a plus-3 defensive rating while playing in all 75 games this season. In fact, his streak of 697 consecutive games played is the longest by an active player in the NHL and the sixth-longest in league history.

Ritchie re-assigned

The Ducks sent Nick Ritchie, a 20-year-old left wing, to their AHL team in San Diego. Ritchie had one goal and one assist in 31 games for the Ducks, making his NHL debut Nov. 16 against the Carolina Hurricanes. He also had 15 goals and 28 points in 33 games with San Diego.