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Should-Win Games – High End Talent – Game Day vs. the Sharks |
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The Calgary Flames are back in action tonight for episode one of a weekend series against the San Jose Sharks and Vegas Golden Knights.
Calgary Flames (16-11-7, 39 pts) vs San Jose Sharks (11-21-6, 28 pts)
Last Ten: Calgary (4-3-3) San Jose (1-8-1)
Time: 8:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.
TV: HNIC, Sportsnet, CityTV, TVA, ESPN
Stealing a point out of seven of their last nine games, Ryan Huska’s Flames stand to lose vital territory if they can’t, at the very least, split the weekend.
With a win OT loss over the Seattle Kraken this afternoon, the Vancouver Canucks climb to three two points above the Flames in the standings with a game in hand. That leaves the Dallas Stars to jockey with for the final Wildcard spot in the West.
We’re only on game 35 of the season, but tonight’s faceoff against the Sharks is arguably a must-win.
The Sharks, to their credit, are limping back onto home ice after losing 6-3 to the Golden Knights on Friday night. The team featuring 2024 first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini and 2023 fourth-overall pick Will Smith has lost six consecutive outings.
The Flames have struggled with games like this in the past. Games they clearly should win.
Huska's crew has a 31st-place squad teed up who will be dragging their feet following a beatdown the night before. The only way the Flames could lose tonight is if they beat themselves. If they fail to show up, you can expect another narrative-driven day for Calgary sports media.
Calgary Flames Projected Lineup
Courtesy of Derek Wills. @Fan960Wills
Huberdeau-Kadri-Pospisil
Coleman-Backlund-Coronato
Sharangovich-Zary-Pelletier
Lomberg-Rooney-Duehr
Bahl-Andersson
Hanley-Weegar
Bean-Pachal
Wolf (Starter)
Vladar
San Jose Sharks Projected Lineup
Courtesy of former HockeyBuzz writer Sheng Peng. @Sheng_Peng
No word on starting goalie, but Goergiev played last night.
Kostin-Granlund-Toffoli
Zetterlund-Celebrini-Smith
Kunin-Wennberg-Goodrow
Grundstrom-Sturm-Dellandrea
Thrun-Ceci
Ferraro-Liljegren
Mukhamadullin-Rutta
Askarov
Goergiev
Worth the Price of Admission
It’s possible that the Flames simply play like they are supposed to. They did it for 55 minutes against Chicago before allowing two goals in the final ten minutes of regulation.
If that turns out to be the case, use this opportunity to watch Celebrini and Smith work together on a San Jose’s second forward unit.
Celebrini already looks like the real deal. The 18 year old may be the best player on the ice at SAP Center tonight.
The former Boston University Terrier has 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points in 26 games in 2024-2025. All while working through an early-season hip injury.
The best of yet to come for the North Vancouver kid.
Will Smith, 19, has had a different experience so far in his rookie campaign.
Six goals and seven assists in 30 games is nothing to write home about. Nor is his -11 even strength goal differential. Smith’s offensive production has been markedly patchy.
53% of his production came during a four-game streak between Nov. 25-30. Beyond a couple two-point games (including last night) the former World Junior gold medal winner has struggled to make an impact on the scoresheet.
More Time Needed
Veteran defenceman Joel Hanley will once again skate on Calgary’s second pairing with MacKenzie Weegar.
Weegar’s regular defensive partner, Daniil Miromanov, has missed the last four games, last playing on Dec. 12.
You Know My Number
The Calgary Flames are 6-1-0 against the San Jose Sharks since the beginning of the Jonathan Huberdeau Era. Their only loss a 6-3 result coming on Feb. 15, 2024.
Now playing for HC Davos in Switzerland, Filip Zadina had two goals and two assists against the Flames during game two of a three-game losing streak.
Puck drop is at 8:00 p.m. MST.
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
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