Flames Gameday: Calgary In A Tailspin Up Against The High-Flying Winnipeg Jets

Calgary Flames (25-25-5, 55 points) versus Winnipeg Jets (33-14-5, 71 points)

It quite possibly is too late for the Flames to mount a legitimate playoff push. Sure, in theory they could go on a wild and crazy run, but this is a squad that is not won more than four straight games and never been better than three games above .500. It would defy the odds.

Throw in the expected departures with the looming March 8 trade deadline, and the odds likely sink further, but until that day comes, the Flames will hold out hope.

“I think we stick as a team, we know we can do it together,” Jonathan Huberdeau told the media after Sunday’s off-ice workout. “We had a good road trip, (coming) back at home, it’s been hard, but I think with the group we have, we have a lot of character and we’ve showed it this year, so we’ve got to come back and be better.”

With the Flames on a three-game losing run, the task to turn their fortunes is a challenge with Sean Monahan and the Winnipeg Jets in town for a Family Day matinee clash. The Jets arrive on a three-game winning streak after a swoon (0-4-1) knocked them down a peg. Even so, they are in the thick of the hunt for top spot in the Central Division, a three-way fight between themselves, the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche.

Speaking of Monahan, the long-time Flames centre traded to Winnipeg during the all-star break, scored his first goal since being dealt from the Montreal Canadiens last game, his first point in the Jets colours.

With no morning skate due to the 2 p.m. start, we will guess at the lineups.

Calgary
Forwards:
Jonathan Huberdeau-Yegor Sharangovich-Andrei Kuzmenko
Connor Zary-Nazem Kadri-Martin Pospisil
Andrew Mangiapane-Mikael Backlund-Blake Coleman
Dryden Hunt-Kevin Rooney-Walker Duehr
Defence:
MacKenzie Weegar-Rasmus Andersson
Noah Hanifin-Chris Tanev
Oliver Kylington-Brayden Pachal
Extras: Dennis Gilbert, Jordan Oesterle
Goal:
Jacob Markstrom
Dan Vladar
Markstrom has an 8-15-2 career record against the Jets with a 3.10 goals-against average and .896 save percentage. Vladar lost his lone game against the Jets when he surrendered two goals in a 3-1 defeat on April 29, 2022.

Winnipeg
Forwards:
Kyle Connor-Mark Scheifele-Gabriel Vilardi
Nikolaj Ehlers-Sean Monahan-Cole Perfetti
Mason Appleton-Adam Lowry-Nino Niederreiter
Morgan Barron-Vladislav Namestnikov-Alex Iafallo
Defence:
Josh Morrissey-Dylan DeMelo
Brenden Dillon-Neal Pionk
Dylan Samberg-Nate Schmidt
Goal:
Laurent Brossoit
Connor Hellebuyck
Brossoit has a 4-2-0 record with a 3.31 GAA and .896 SvPct. against Calgary. Hellebuyck sports a 13-7-1 mark with two shutouts, and a 2.08 GAA and .930 SvPct.

ICE CHIPS: With the Jets playing Tuesday at home to Minnesota, don’t be surprised if G Laurent Brossoit, who was drafted by the Flames, gets the nod and Vezina Trophy-front runner Connor Hellebuyck faces the Wild … Starting Dec. 2, the Jets have surrendered three or more goals in only four outings while posting a 21-6-3 mark … With his next action, Flames G Jacob Markstrom will play his 200th game with the club (199th start) and vying for his 100th victory … Both the Flames (0-4) and Jets (0-1) are winless in shootouts this season.