Flames expect rookie Connor Zary back in the lineup, have won in their last five visits to Big D
It appears the Calgary Flames will have Connor Zary back in the lineup for Friday’s road clash with the Dallas Stars.
Zary — the rookie who has collected eight points in nine games — missed Calgary’s last game due to injury. With his return, Walker Duehr appears to be the healthy scratch.
Zary, who has netted three goals and five assists since being summoned from the AHL (including a goal in his NHL debut the last time these teams met — a 4-3 Dallas win in Calgary), will add speed to the lineup. He also has been a key to elevating Nazem Kadri’s play.
The Flames (7-9-3) certainly need that against the Stars (12-4-2), who lead the Central Division and have an extremely deep group of forwards.
Curiously, both clubs are a 1-1-1 run.
As good as the Stars have been, the Flames have fared well against them, In fact, Calgary has won the last five visits to Dallas.
Here’s a look at Calgary’s expected lineup:
Forwards:
Yegor Sharangovich-Elias Lindholm-Andrew Mangiapane
Jonathan Huberdeau-Mikael Backlund-Blake Coleman
Connor Zary-Nazem Kadri-Martin Pospisil
A.J. Greer-Adam Ruzicka-Dillon Dube
Extra: Walker Duehr.
Defense:
MacKenzie Weegar-Rasmus Andersson
Noah Hanifin-Chris Tanev
Nikita Zadorov-Denis Gilbert
Extra: Nick DeSimone
Goal:
Jacob Markstrom
Dan Vladar
Against the Stars, Markstrom has a career 6-3-3 record with a 3.09 goals-against average and .898 save percentage.
Here is the expected roster for Dallas:
Forwards:
Jason Robertson-Roope Hintz-Joe Pavelski
Mason Marchment-Matt Duchene-Tyler Seguin
Jamie Benn-Wyatt Johnston-Evgenii Dadonov
Sam Steel-Radek Faksa-Ty Dellandrea
Defense:
Ryan Suter-Miro Heiskanen
Esa Lindell-Jani Hakanpaa
Thomas Harley-Nils Lundkvist
Goal:
Jake Oettinger
Scott Wedgewood
Oettinger has a career numbers against Calgary of 2-3-0, 3.97, .904.
ICE CHIPS: Stars captain Jamie Benn has collected 23 goals and 42 points in 41 career games against the Flames, while Joe Pavelski has amassed 19 goals and 60 points in 62 career clashes with Calgary … The Flames could use Jonathan Huberdeau to continue his success against Dallas. In 25 games, he’s netted 10 goals and 30 points.