Both the Flames and Kraken are a handful of points behind the playoff pace
Flames (14-15-5, 33 points) versus Seattle Kraken (12-14-9, 33 points)
Their 15-game gauntlet is now in the rear-view mirror (a stretch in which they posted a 7-6-2 mark), as well as the holiday break, and now the Calgary Flames resume their playoff chase against the Seattle Kraken Wednesday night at the Saddledome.
The Flames have won eight of nine all-time meetings, including a pair of games in Seattle in November
Jacob Markstrom is slated to start in goal for Calgary, and while fans will know Dan Vladar was in net for both Flames victories over the Kraken already this season, Markstrom has a perfect mark against Seattle in his career.
The Kraken headed into the break with a two-game winning streak and a 4-0-2 run that followed an eight-game winless skid. Seattle has surrendered 11 goals in those six games.
Goalie Joey Daccord has allowed two or fewer goals in six of seven consecutive starts since Philipp Grubauer was injured Dec. 9, but the Kraken are starting former Calgary Hitmen netminder Chris Driedger, his first NHL game since May 1, 2022.
Here’s a look at Calgary’s expected lineup:
Forwards:
Andrew Mangiapane-Elias Lindholm-Yegor Sharangovich
Jonathan Huberdeau-Mikael Backlund-Blake Coleman
Connor Zary-Nazem Kadri-Martin Pospisil
A.J. Greer-Dillon Dube-Walker Duehr
Extra: Adam Ruzicka
Defence:
MacKenzie Weegar-Rasmus Andersson
Noah Hanifin-Chris Tanev
Dennis Gilbert-Nick DeSimone
Extra: Jordan Oesterle
Goal:
Jacob Markstrom
Dan Vladar
Markstrom has a career 3-0-0 record against Seattle with a 2.46 goals-against average and .898 save percentage. Vladar’s career record against the Kraken is 5-1-0 with a 2.80 goals-against average and .897 save percentage.
Here is the expected roster for the Kraken:
Forwards:
Tomas Tatar-Matty Beniers-Jordan Eberle
Jared McCann-Alex Wennberg-Brandon Tanev
Eeli Tolvanen-Yanni Gourde-Oliver Bjorkstrand
Tye Kartye-Devin Shore-Kailer Yamamoto
Defence:
Vince Dunn-Adam Larsson
Jamie Oleksiak-William Borgen
Brian Dumoulin-Ryker Evans
Extra: Justin Schultz, Jaycob Megna
Goal:
Chris Driedger
Joey Daccord
Driedger has a career 0-3-0 record, with a 4.95 GAA and .845 SvPct against Caglary. Daccord has a 1-0-1 mark against the Flames, with a 3.30 GAA and .897 SvPct.
ICE CHIPS: In four games since being traded to the Kraken from Colorado, LW Tomas Tatar has collected two goals and two assists … C Matty Beniers, who has been suffering through a sophomore slump after winning the Calder Trophy last season, has netted one goal and five points in a three-game streak … The Flames’ Putrid Power Play™ has scored a goal in two consecutive games. That may seem small, but the last time time that happened was the start of November … For those not keeping track, LW Jonathan Huberdeau has gone 16 games without a goal and 11 without a point. His last goal was the Nov. 20 game against Seattle … Speaking of slumps, F Dillon Dube has an 18-game goal drought and 14-game point drought … This is the 200th regular-season game in Kraken history. Seattle’s all-time regular season record is 85-91-23 ... The Kraken and New York Islanders have both already posted nine overtime/shootout losses this season. The record is 18, set by the 2011-12 Florida Panthers, 2013-14 New Jersey Devils and 2014-15 Philadelphia Flyers. Of course, Flames fans will remember Calgary lost 17 extra-time games last season.
