Nashville Predators (5-9-3) at Calgary Flames (8-6-3)
When: Friday, 7 p.m. MT, Scotiabank Saddledome
TV: Sportsnet West. Radio: Sportsnet 960 The Fan
Odds: Predators -130, Flames +108
The buzz
A lot of Flames fans have been clamouring for this lineup look … Connor Zary will be skating at centre against the Predators, the middle-man on a forward trio that will also feature Jonathan Huberdeau and Yegor Sharangovich. The 23-year-old Zary is the latest to audition at the pivot position, with Martin Pospisil and Sharangovich already auditioning in that slot. One of Zary’s greatest strengths is his ability to transport the puck, and the Flames’ coaches are hoping that will translate to centre, a position he’s previously played in both junior and the minors and also for a brief spell at the end of his rookie campaign.
The Predators did a major remodel in the summer, signing veteran forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault as unrestricted free agents, but this new-look crew stumbled out of the starting gates. Although they have collected four of a possible six points over a 1-0-2 stretch, they still have only five wins on the season, tied for worst in the NHL. Stamkos and Marchessault have combined for seven goals so far and are both in double digits in minuses.
The quote
“They’re a team that has a lot of offensive weapons and I think they have one of the best defencemen in the NHL (Roman Josi). They can come at you in a lot of different ways and they can play the game in a lot of different ways. So our team has to be ready to play. Just like anybody else we’re playing against, the priority and focus is always on what we have to do to make sure we’re successful and that’s staying true to the style of play that we need to have every night.”
— Flames head coach Ryan Huska after Friday’s morning skate
The poll
Who is the best bet to fill the Flames’ vacancy at centre?
a) Connor Zary is the guy
b) Try Martin Pospisil again
c) Call up Rory Kerins
d) Time for a trade
The news
- The Flames have juggled their power-play units. MacKenzie Weegar has been taking practice reps with Huberdeau, Sharangovich, Zary and Matt Coronato, while Rasmus Andersson is running the point on a crew that also includes Mikael Backlund, Nazem Kadri, Andrei Kuzmenko and Pospisil.
- The Flames are opening a four-game homestand that will also include dates with the New York Islanders, New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild. They are 5-3-0 this season at the Saddledome.
- The Predators are on the second half of a back-to-back after Thursday’s 3-2 overtime loss in Edmonton.
- Friday’s matchup could feature five former Kelowna Rockets. Calgary’s Mikael Backlund, Tyson Barrie and Justin Kirkland and Nashville’s Luke Schenn and Colton Sissons all played in Kelowna during their Western Hockey League days. (It does appear that Barrie will likely be a healthy scratch on the Flames’ blue-line.)
The projected lineup
- Forwards
- Huberdeau-Zary-Sharangovich
- Pospisil-Kadri-Kuzmenko
- Coleman-Backlund-Coronato
- Lomberg-Rooney-Kirkland
- Defence
- Bahl-Andersson
- Weegar-Miromanov
- Bean-Pachal
- Goalies
- Wolf
- Vladar
The injuries
- Anthony Mantha (knee)
In case you missed it
As an undersized goalie, Dustin Wolf has long been compared to Predators stalwart Juuse Saros. On Friday, they’ll likely be going head-to-head for the first time.