Flames turn to Dustin Wolf in goal as they kick off a four-game homestand and sitting three points outside a Stanley Cup playoff position
Flames (25-23-5, 55 points) versus San Jose Sharks (14-33-5, 33 points)
The Flames saw their four-game winning streak snapped in Monday's 2-0 loss to the New York Rangers to end their road trip. A clash with the Sharks is a prime opportunity to get back in the win column.
Amidst all of the trade talk and rumours of players being dealt away — notably defencemen Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev as well as number-one goalie Jacob Markstrom — the Flames go into the night's action three points outside a playoff spot. Currently, the Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues are tied with 58 points and hold the pair of Western Conference wild-card positions.
Dustin Wolf is scheduled to start in goal, his fifth this season and sixth of his career. Wolf hails from Gilroy, Calif., (about a half-hour drive from the home of the Sharks). Calgary will make one other lineup swap. Cole Schwindt draws in on the fourth line with left wing Jakob Pelletier sidelined with an upper-body injury suffered in the Big Apple.
The Sharks, who lead only the Chicago Blackhawks in the league standings, come to Calgary after a 1-0 loss Wednesday night in Winnipeg.
Sharks center Nico Sturm was injured Wednesday in Winnipeg, but is apparently well enough to play. San Jose, which is also without its top two centers in Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl, is already using a D among the forwards in Jacob MacDonald.
This is the first of three meetings between now and the end of the season, including Calgary’s finale on April 18. The Flames have won the last five meetings.
Here’s a look at Calgary’s expected lineup:
Forwards:
Jonathan Huberdeau-Yegor Sharangovich-Andrei Kuzmenko
Connor Zary-Nazem Kadri-Martin Pospisil
Andrew Mangiapane-Mikael Backlund-Blake Coleman
Cole Schwindt-Kevin Rooney-Walker Duehr
Defence:
MacKenzie Weegar-Rasmus Andersson
Noah Hanifin-Chris Tanev
Oliver Kylington-Brayden Pachal
Extras: Dennis Gilbert, Jordan Oesterle
Goal:
Dustin Wolf
Jacob Markstrom
Wolf won his first NHL game against San Jose, a 3-1 affair to close out last season. Markstrom has a 6-8-1 career record against the Sharks with a 3.13 goals-against average and .898 save percentage. He’s won his last three games.
Here is the potential roster for the Sharks:
Forwards:
Fabian Zetterlund-Mikael Granlund-Anthony Duclair
Alexander Barabanov-William Eklund-Luke Kunin
Mike Hoffman-Nico Sturm-Jacob MacDonald
Justin Bailey-Ryan Carpenter-Filip Zadina
Defence:
Mario Ferraro-Jan Rutta
Marc-Edouard Vlasic-Ty Emberson
Kyle Burroughs-Calen Addison
Goal:
Mackenzie Blackwood
Kaapo Kahkonen
Blackwood has an 0-3-0 record, 5.41 GAA and .857 SvPct. against Calgary. Kahkonen, who played last night in Winnipeg, boasts a 0-4-0 mark with a 3.95 GAA and .886 SvPct.
ICE CHIPS: San Jose does boast a 4-2-1 mark in its last seven games ... Flames LW Jonathan Huberdeau's next point will the 700th in his career ... This may be an opportunity for Calgary's power play (currently at 14.8%) to find some spark. San Jose has the 31st penalty kill (73.3%) ... The Sharks actually boast a better power play than Calgary (16.8% compared to 14.8%) although San Jose has only one man-advantage marker in 11 games (1-for-22) ... Despite his team's struggles, Sharks D Ty Emberson has an even plus-minus rating ... San Jose is being outshot on average 35.5 to 25.3 per game.