While the Flames have flickering playoff hopes, they greet an old friend whose squad is headed yet again to a high draft lottery pick
Flames (21-21-5, 47 points) versus Columbus Blue Jackets (14-23-9, 37 points)
The Flames are looking to snap a three-game losing skid. The Blue Jackets have lost two straight (with one win in six outings 1-4-1). Something’s gotta give.
While the Flames have seen their playoff hopes become less and less of a possibility by netting only one win in the first four games of a six-game homestand, they can hope facing the Blue Jackets on Thursday — as well as the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday — will be worth a couple of wins and possibly momentum heading into the all-star break.
The Flames are expected to make some roster moves, with the very real possibility defenceman Oliver Kylington will mark his return from dealing with his mental health and play his first game since the 2021-22 season.
The Blue Jackets, who appear destined yet again to have big odds to win the draft lottery, may receive a boost with top-pairing defenceman Zach Werenski back after missing the last 10 games due to an ankle injury. Werenski is third on the Blue Jackets with 25 points (1-24-25).
Johnny Gaudreau, the former Flames standout who left via free agency, has seven goals and 29 points in 46 games.
The Blue Jackets won the first meeting of the season, a 3-1 game in Columbus in October — the one that ended with Flames Rasmus Andersson hitting Patrik Laine in the head near the buzzer and receiving a four-game suspension.
Columbus has won two of the last three meetings, but the Flames have claimed seven of the last nine, and four straight at home.
Here’s a look at Calgary’s expected lineup:
Forwards:
Jonathan Huberdeau-Elias Lindholm-Yegor Sharangovich
Andrew Mangiapane-Mikael Backlund-Blake Coleman
Connor Zary-Nazem Kadri-Matt Coronato
A.J. Greer-Cole Schwindt-Adam Klapka
Extra: Walker Duehr
Defence:
Rasmus Andersson-MacKenzie Weegar
Noah Hanifin-Chris Tanev
Jordan Oesterle-Oliver Kylington
Extra: Dennis Gilbert
Goal:
Jacob Markstrom
Dan Vladar
Markstrom has a 4-2-0 career record (one shutout) against Columbus with a 1.82 goals-against average and .942 save percentage. Vladar has a career 2-0-0 mark against the Blue Jackets, with a 2.45 GAA and .889 SvPct..
Here is the potential roster for the Blue Jackets:
Forwards:
Johnny Gaudreau-Cole Sillinger-Yegor Chinakov
Adam Fantilli-Boone Jenner-Jack Roslovic
Kent Johnson-Dmitri Voronkov-Kirill Marchenko
Alexandre Texier-Sean Kuraly-Justin Danforth
Defence:
Zach Werenski-Adam Boqvist
Ivan Provorov-Damon Severson
Jake Bean-Erik Gudbranson
Goal:
Danill Tarasov
Elvis Merzlikins
Tarasov has never faced the Flames. Merzlikins has an 1-2-0 record, with a 4.88 GAA and .894 SvPct. against Calgary.
ICE CHIPS: In three career games against Calgary, Johnny Gaudreau has netted two assists. Over his last nine games, Gaudreau has collected four assists and a minus-9 rating … The Blue Jackets have actually outscored opponents in the first period by a 46-41 count, but have been outscored 73-37 in the third period … Columbus RW Kirill Marchenko has scored six power-play goals, twice as many as any player on the Flames.