WA-NHL-ChristmasGames_ The Calgary Flames [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames/] (16-11-7) return from their Christmas break with a min-two game road trip that begins against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night. It will be the first time 2024 first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini [https://www.nhl.com/sharks/player/macklin-celebrini-8484801] will play the Flames in his young career. Calgary recently played the top pick from the 2023 draft, Connor Bedard, who scored his first goal against the club in a 6-4 loss. Tonight's game will be memorable for Dustin Wolf, born in Gilroy, CA, a town roughly 35 minutes south of San Jose. This is the 23-year-old's first game against his "hometown" team. He's 10-5-2 this season with a 2.80 GAA and .910 SV%. However, he's just 1-4-1 on the road with a 4.16 GAA and .862 SV%. Meanwhile, against the two other California teams, the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings, Wolf is 2-0-0 with 2.00 GAA and .921 SV%. The Sharks plan to start rookie Yaroslav Askarov [https://www.nhl.com/sharks/player/yaroslav-askarov-8482137], who has been 1-1-2 in four games since joining San Jose following a trade from the Nashville Predators this past summer. Moreover, Celebrini will look to continue his strong play at home, where he has nine goals and 15 points in 12 games. As one of the front runners for the Calder Trophy, he's got 11 goals and 26 points in 26 games, ranking fourth in team scoring. Regarding their places in the standings, Calgary (39 points) ranks fifth in the Pacific Division and is two points behind the Vancouver Canucks for the last wildcard spot in the Western Conference. The Sharks (28 points) remain last in the Pacific Division and have the NHL's second-worst record, but they are front runners to win the NHL Draft Lottery for the second consecutive season. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FLAMES & SHARKS LEADERS * undefined * undefined * undefined * undefined * undefined * undefined -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Per the Flames staff at NHL.com [https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-projected-lineup-projections], here's a breakdown of tonight's lineup. (Subject to change) FORWARDS Jonathan Huberdeau -- Nazem Kadri -- Martin Pospisil Blake Coleman -- Mikael Backlund -- Matt Coronato Yegor Sharangovich -- Connor Zary -- Jakob Pelletier Ryan Lomberg -- Kevin Rooney -- Walker Duehr DEFENCE Kevin Bahl -- Rasmus Andersson Joel Hanley -- Mackenzie Weegar Jake Bean -- Brayden Pachal GOALIES Dustin Wolf Dan Vladar [https://www.nhl.com/player/8478435] SCRATCHES Daniil Miromanov, Tyson Barrie, Andrei Kuzmenko -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tonight is the first of four meetings between the Flames and Sharks in 2024-25. These two clubs meet again at the Saddledome on Feb. 23 before wrapping up their season series with two contests in April. The game is available on NBCSCA, TVAS, CityTV, Sportsnet, CBC, and Sportsnet+. The puck drops at 8 p.m. MT. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExNDI4NzY0NzEyNzA3MjMx/thncgybanner-bookmark.png]
