That may be the epitaph of the Calgary Flames‘ playoff hopes, as written in Anaheim, of all places.

An epic collapse against the Ducks late Wednesday quite likely put an end to Calgary’s hopes of catching Minnesota for the final wild-card spot.

A few hours after the Wild won in overtime to move six points ahead of the Flames, Calgary got, well, Flamed.

After a full month of late Calgary comebacks, the Ducks turned the tables on a desperate visiting club that appeared to have the win secured after scoring two late goals to lead 3-1 with less than five minutes left.

That’s when disaster struck.

With four minutes left Frank Vatrano and Cutter Gauthier scored eight seconds apart, tying the Flames’ franchise record for the second-fastest pair of goals ever scored against them.

Shocked by the rapid turn of events, the Flames went into overtime with heads spinning, fully comprehending the season hung in the balance.

Yet, one minute in, Gauthier converted a slick pass from Leo Carlsson by sniping the winner over Dustin Wolf’s glove from the high slot.

As part of his celly, the rookie drew a heart with his gloves and promptly punched right through it.

A backbreaker, too, as the Flames’ 4-3 overtime loss now has them sitting five points back of Minnesota with four games remaining

Sure, the Flames have a game in hand and a marquee matchup with the Wild Friday at the Dome.

But the Wild hold the tiebreaker, meaning a win by the Wild Friday would officially end the Flames’ chances of catching them.

The Blues also sit five up on the Flames following a loss in Edmonton, but they too hold the tiebreaker over Calgary.

“Disappointing,” said MacKenzie Weegar, whose club outshot the Ducks 39-23 and appeared to have the game well in hand after late goals by Yegor Sharangovich and Matt Coronato.

“Up 3-1 with I don’t even know how many minutes left. That’s when leadership and everybody has to step up and shut that game down.

“Unfortunately, it’s going to cost us big time.”

“It’s hard, it’s tough,” said Mikael Backlund, searching for words in the quietest of dressing rooms.

“Up 3-1 with 5 minutes left is a tough one to swallow.

“Up 3-1 you’ve got to find a way to shut it down.

“It doesn’t matter how you play the first 55 minutes if you don’t win.”

Like their overtime loss to Vegas Saturday, there’s no solace in snagging a point.

The only way to even attempt to make up six points on the Wild is for the Flames to win on Friday and run the table the final three, while hoping the Wild falter in their last two games.

It’s a lot to ask, especially considering the Wild got top-liners Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek back from injury Wednesday, who promptly combined for six goals, including the OT winner in an 8-7 game.

Catching St. Louis is equally as challenging given they’re the hottest team in hockey and still have two games left.

“We should be disappointed, it’s 3-1 and the game should be over,” said Ryan Huska, lamenting his power play units squandered several opportunities to put the game away by going 0-for-6.

“But right now there is nothing we can do about it.

“All we can do is make sure we’re ready to go for our next game against Minnesota.”