Former Flames standouts Sean Monahan and Tyler Toffoli and the Jets gearing up for a playoff run
Calgary Flames (34-35-5, 73 points) at Winnipeg Jets (45-24-6, 96 points)
The axe is ready to fall. The Calgary Flames, losers of six of their last seven outings and with a 3-9-0 mark since the trade deadline, could be officially eliminated tonight. If the Flames fail to win or the Los Angeles Kings earn even a single point during their game tonight against the last-place San Jose Sharks, the Flames will be officially done and dusted — although it has been expected for the past month.
For those on Team Tank, the Flames sit precariously eighth from the bottom of the standings, but after tonight’s clash as well as Saturday’s at home against the Edmonton Oilers, the calibre of Calgary’s opposition the rest of the way decreases.
Back to this affair, it is an opportunity for both Blake Coleman and Yegor Sharangovich to reach the 30-goal mark for the first time in their careers — both are at 29 — while MacKenzie Weegar (with 18 tallies) has a chance to reach the 20-goal mark for the first time.
Meanwhile the Jets are trying to regain their form after a six-game winless swoon (0-5-1) was snapped with a crucial 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Monday. Winnipeg, which was in the mix for the Central Division crown only a couple of weeks ago, is four points back of the Colorado Avalanche for second place in the division and with a six-point edge on the Nashville Predators for third spot. The Jets can clinch a playoff spot with a victory of any sort, or if a combination of out-of-town scores work out.
The game is a chance to catch up with a couple of former Flames who are having varying success since they were acquired by the Jets this season. Sean Monahan, dealt from the Montreal Canadiens back in February, has potted 11 goals and 19 points in 27 games since being acquired by Winnipeg. He collected a hat trick against Calgary in their last meeting and has potted three goals and on assist in a four-game point streak.
Tyler Toffoli has netted four goals (coming in a two-game span) and six points in 11 games since joining the Jets at the trade deadline. Toffoli has collected 30 goals and 50 points this season.
Calgary has won both meetings this season, a 5-3 clash to open the season and a 6-3 affair at the Saddledome on Feb. 19. The Flames had an optional skate so here is our best guess at the lineups.
Calgary
Forwards:
Jonathan Huberdeau-Mikael Backlund-Blake Coleman
Connor Zary-Yegor Sharangovich-Matt Coronato
Martin Pospisil-Nazem Kadri-Andrei Kuzmenko
A.J. Greer-Kevin Rooney-Dryden Hunt
Extra: Walker Duehr
Defence:
Nikita Okhotiuk-Rasmus Andersson
MacKenzie Weegar-Daniil Miromanov
Oliver Kylington-Brayden Pachal
Extra: Dennis Gilbert
Goal:
Dustin Wolf
Jacob Markstrom
Wolf has never faced the Jets. Markstrom has a career 9-15-2 record against Winnipeg with two shutouts, a 3.10 goals-against average and .896 save percentage.
Winnipeg
Forwards:
Nikolaj Ehlers-Mark Scheifele-Gabriel Vilardi
Kyle Connor-Sean Monahan-Cole Perfetti
Tyler Toffoli-Adam Lowry-Mason Appleton
Morgan Barron-Vladislav Namestnikov-Alex Iafallo
Defence:
Josh Morrissey-Neal Pionk
Brenden Dillon-Dylan DeMelo
Dylan Samberg-Nate Schmidt
Goal:
Connor Helleybuyck
Laurent Brossoit
Hellebuyck has a 13-8-1 career mark versus Calgary with two shutouts, a 2.21 GAA and .926 SvPct. Brossoit boasts a 4-2-0 mark with a 3.31 GAA and .896 SvPct. against the Flames
ICE CHIPS: Flames D Joel Hanley, injured in Tuesday’s clash with the Anaheim Ducks, did not make the trip … LW Andrew Mangiapane is a possibility after missing the past few games ... D MacKenzie Weegar is two points shy of reaching 200 for his career, while D Rasmus Andersson needs four points to hit that mark. Weegar is on a four-game point streak in which he's collected two goals and six points, while C Nazem Kadri is also on a four-game run, with one goal and five assists ... RW Andrei Kuzmenko has a run of three consecutive multi-point games on the go, in which he has netted four goals and two assists … The Jets are tied for sixth in the league with 94 third-period goals. The Flames are 15th with 86.
