Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/3bcc35ab-9708-42ce-ac09-b5bd2b80b24c.webp] Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images Not only did the Calgary Flames lose to the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 in a shootout, but they lost their captain Mikael Backlund [https://www.nhl.com/player/8474150] to an upper body injury in the first period. After pursuing a hit in the corner, Backlund looked in pain and skated just one shift before departing the game [https://x.com/NHLFlames/status/1360816212821766146]. His final stat line for the night read two shots and one hit in five shifts, totaling 2:58. Head coach Ryan Huska did not provide an update on Backlund in his post-game scrum, simply saying, “No update. All I know is it is an upper body thing.” Backlund has not missed a game this season and has been in the Flames lineup for every game since the 2020-21 season, when he missed two contests. He's scored 11 goals and 24 points this year, his lowest total since the 2014-15 season. Hockey insiders have defended the captain, as the fan base has been critical of his performance. They state that he's been battling various injuries all year and that Wednesday was the first time he had removed himself from a game. Meanwhile, if Backlund is out for any length of time, the Flames would be without the NHL's seventh leading face-off taker, as the captain has taken 1,236 draws. Ultimately, his absence means someone needs to step up in this department, like Nazem Kadri [https://www.nhl.com/player/8475172], who has taken the 10th most face-offs at 1,146. Interestingly, 22 players have taken a face-off [https://www.nhl.com/stats/skaters?report=faceoffwins&reportType=season&seasonFrom=20242025&seasonTo=20242025&gameType=2&playerPlayedFor=franchise.21&sort=totalFaceoffs&page=0&pageSize=50] for the Flames this season, with Backlund and Kadri the only two to surpass 324, the total of Kevin Rooney, the third highest face-off taker on the team.
