Calgary has won only twice in nine outings since the trade deadline
Calgary Flames (33-33-5, 71 points) at St. Louis Blues (38-30-4, 80 points)
Maddening March is nearing an end for the Calgary Flames. The Flames visit the still-in-the-mix St. Louis Blues in their penultimate game in what has been a trying month — and we’re not talking about the snow in the Stampede City.
Since the March 8 trade deadline, Calgary has just two wins in nine outings, and heads into the St. Louis clash on a four-game losing skid. Sure, these woes will help the Flames with their draft lottery odd and may even mean a top-10 pick for the first time since selecting Matthew Tkachuk sixth overall in 2016, but the struggles are definitely weighing on the organization and players.
Calgary is planning some roster swaps after a disappointing 3-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in Tuesday's opener to this road swing. Rookie goaltender Dustin Wolf is slated to start in net, while Andrew Mangiapane is out and defenceman Oliver Kylington is a game-time decision.
The Blues, who found out they will be without forward Oskar Sundqvist for the remainder of the season, are six points back of the Vegas Golden Knights for the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot with 10 games remaining. St. Louis is coming off an overtime loss to the Knights on Monday, but has cobbled together a 6-1-1 mark in the last eight.
The Blues have won both previous meetings this season, both in Calgary. The first was a 3-0 game back on Oct. 26 and the second was a 4-3 affair on Jan. 23. St. Louis has claimed six of the last seven clashes.
Here is a best guess at the lines we will see.
Calgary
Forwards:
Jonathan Huberdeau-Yegor Sharangovich-Andrei Kuzmenko
Connor Zary-Nazem Kadri-Martin Pospisil
Blake Coleman-Mikael Backlund-Matt Coronato
A.J. Greer-Kevin Rooney-Dryden Hunt
Extra: Walker Duehr
Defence:
Oliver Kylington-Rasmus Andersson
MacKenzie Weegar-Daniil Miromanov
Joel Hanley-Brayden Pachal
Extras: Dennis Gilbert, Nikita Okhotiuk
Goal:
Dustin Wolf
Jacob Markstrom
Wolf has never faced the Blues. Markstrom, who was in goal for both Calgary losses to the Blues this season, has a 4-9-2 career mark against St. Louis with a 3.00 goals-against average and .887 save percentage.
St. Louis
Forwards:
Pavel Buchnevich-Robert Thomas-Jake Neighbours
Brandon Saad-Brayden Schenn-Jordan Kyrou
Zack Bolduc-Kevin Hayes-Alexey Toropchenko
Nathan Walker-Zachary Dean-Kasperi Kapanen
Defence:
Nick Leddy-Colton Parayko
Torey Krug-Matthew Kessel
Scott Perunovich-Justin Faulk
Goal:
Jordan Binnington
Joel Hofer
Binnington has a 6-5-1 career mark versus Calgary, with one shutout, a 3.26 GAA and .901 SvPct. Hofer’s lone game against the Flames was the shutout win early this season.
ICE CHIPS: The Blues have 10 overtime/shootout wins this season and have a 4-1 mark in shootouts. The Flames have a 5-5 mark in extra time outings (0-4 in shootouts) … St. Louis has an impressive 12-4-2 record against Pacific Division clubs … Who’s holding a hot hand for the Blues? Brandon Saad has scored in three consecutive games and has five points in a three-game run, while Jordan Kyrou has netted four goals and seven points in the past three games and Calgary product Jake Neighbours has collected five goals — three of them game winners — and seven points in his last seven games. Neighbours, a 2020 first-round draft pick, will celebrate his 22nd birthday on Friday … Calgary has not scored a power-play goal in their last seven games against St. Louis … Blues G Jordan Binnington has a 16-7-2 home record along with three shutouts, a 2.46 GAA and .923 SvPct. His road marks are 9-12-2 3.24 GAA and .901 SvPct. ... Blues D Torey Krug is a game-time decision (illness). He took part in the morning skate.