Flames Gameday: Calgary at Buffalo Sabres

Flames hunting for the first win in Game 3 of their road swing

The Calgary Flames are in Oh, Oh territory so far on their five-game road swing.

Having started the sojourn with losses to the Pittsburgh Penguin and Washington Capitals — who were beaten by the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators respectively on Wednesday night — the Flames are in desperate need of a victory against a Buffalo team that is coming off its first win of the season.

Goaltender Dan Vladar is expected to receive his first start of the campaign, which would mean Jacob Markstrom will play Friday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the second half of the back-to-back set.

Vladar has twice faced the Sabres in his career, in which he has posted a 1-1-0 record with a 2.43 goals-against average and .913 save percentage. By comparison, Markstom’s career marks against Buffalo are 7-2-2, 2.26 GAA and .920 SvPct. with one shutout

The Flames had an optional morning skate in Buffalo (Yes, it makes you wonder if the coaches will keep making them optional if the losses pile up).

Here are the way the lines started in Pittsburgh:
Forwards:
Jonathan Huberdeau-Elias Lindholm-Andrew Mangiapane
Adam Ruzicka-Nazem Kadri-Dillon Dube
Blake Coleman-Mikael Backlund-Matt Coronato
AJ Greer-Yegor Sharangovich-Walker Duehr
Extra: Dryden Hunt
Defense:
Noah Hanifin-Rasmus Andersson
Nikita Zadorov-MacKenzie Weegar
Dennis Gilbert-Chris Tanev
Extra: Jordan Oesterle
Goal:
Dan Vladar
Jacob Markstrom

Here is Buffalo’s expected lineup:
Forwards:
Jeff Skinner-Take Thompson-Alex Tuch
John Jason Peterka-Dylan Cozens-Peyton Krebs
Jordan Greenway-Casey Mittelstadt-Zach Benson
Zemgus Girgensons-Tyson Jost-Kyle Okposo
Extra: Matt Savoie
Defense:
Rasmus Dahlin- Mattias Samuelsson
Owen Power-Henri Jokiharju
Erik Johnson-Connor Clifton
Extras: Victor Olofsson, Jacob Bryson
Goal:
Devon Levi
Eric Comrie

Levi, the rookie acquired from the Florida Panthers via trade along with a first-round draft choice, for Sam Reinhart, has a 1-2-0 record with a 3.00 GAA and .893 SvPct.

ICE CHIPS: Tage Thompson, Buffalo’s 47-goal scorer last season, has no goals (despite 12 shots on goal), no points and minus-3 through the first three games of the sesaon … The Flames have outscored their opponents 4-1 in the first period and tallied first in all three games. By comparison, the Sabres have been outscored 4-2 in the first period, 4-1 in the third period, and scored first once — their 3-2 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Lightning last outing, a game in which Buffalo saw a 2-1 lead evaporate in the final seconds of regulation … Buffalo is yet to score on the power play, having gone 0-for-8 so far. The Flames have killed all 10 penalties to kick off the campaign.