With No.-1 goalie Jacob Markstrom back in the nets, the Flames end their three-game road trip against Sean Monahan and company
One more game on this road trip that has not become the much-needed turnaround for the Calgary Flames.
After Friday’s shootout loss in Toronto and a disappointing performance in a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Eastern Conference bottom-feeding Ottawa Senators, the Flames (4-8-2) will hope for better fortunes against the Montreal Canadiens (7-6-2) on Tuesday.
Number-one goaltender Jacob Markstrom is back from the injury that sidelined him for the previous two outings — which resulted in Dustin Wolf being dispatched to the AHL Wranglers. Wolf showed well against the Senators behind a team that was far from its best.
It appears coach Ryan Huska, in the seemingly never-ending quest to find some way to ignite Jonathan Huberdeau’s play, will put him on a line with his team’s most consistent forwards in Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman.
It is the latest bit of line shuffling for the floundering Flames, and set off quite the chain reaction.
Here’s a look at Calgary’s lineup based on Monday’s practice:
Forwards:
Adam Ruzicka-Elias Lindholm-Andrew Mangiapane
Jonathan Huberdeau-Mikael Backlund-Blake Coleman
Connor Zary-Nazem Kadri-Martin Pospisil
Yegor Sharangovich-Dillon Dube-Walker Duehr
Extras: A.J. Greer.
Defense:
MacKenzie Weegar-Rasmus Andersson
Noah Hanifin-Chris Tanev
Nikita Zadorov-Nick DeSimone
Extra: Denis Gilbert
Goal:
Jacob Markstrom
Dan Vladar
Here is the expected roster for the Canadiens:
Forwards:
Alex Newhook-Nick Suzuki-Josh Anderson
Cole Caufield-Christian Dvorak-Juraj Slafkovsky
Tanner Pearson-Sean Monahan-Brendan Gallagher
Jesse Ylonen-Jake Evans-Rafael Harvey-Pinard
Defense:
Mike Matheson-Justin Barron
Kaiden Guhle-Johnathan Kovacevic
Arber Xhekaj-Gustav Lindstrom
Goal:
Samuel Montembeault
Jake Allen
ICE CHIPS: Former Flame Sean Monahan has collected six goals and 13 points this season, both more than any player on this year’s Calgary squad … On the other side of the coin, Josh Anderson — a 21-goal scorer last season — is without a goal in 15 games this season, and 2022 first-overall draft pick Juraj Slafkovsky has one goal. In fact, Slafkovsky has one tally in his last 36 NHL games dating back to last season. Both of them recorded six shots on goal in Sunday’s 5-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks … Of Montreal’s seven wins this season, only two have come in regulation time. Four have been in overtime and one via shootout. Seven of Montreal’s 15 games have gone to OT … Calgary’s struggling power play (14.9%, 26th overall) is staring at an opportunity to connect. Montreal is tied for most time shorthanded this season, 63 in 15 games. By comparison, Calgary has been shorthanded 46 times … Elias Lindholm has points in only one game (two assists versus Dallas on Nov. 1) in the last nine outings. Huberdreau is not the lone big-name forward in a big-time slump.