Chicago Blackhawks (12-19-2) at Calgary Flames (15-11-7)
When: Saturday, 2 p.m. MT, Scotiabank Saddledome
TV: Sportsnet One. Radio: Sportsnet 960 The Fan
Odds: Flames -164, Blackhawks +136
The buzz
They have to-do lists to tackle, maybe wish-lists to fulfil. But that can all wait. Before the Flames turn their attention to wrapping presents, they are determined to wrap their pre-holiday schedule with a victory in Saturday’s matinee matchup against Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks. They want to hear Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire … and then they can start singing Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire (a.k.a. The Christmas Song). It’s not just about putting a smile on their faces for any holiday gatherings. The Flames also want to ensure a decent haul from this five-game homestand. After back-to-back overtimes losses, including Thursday’s controversial finish against the Ottawa Senators, they are 1-1-2 so far.
The Blackhawks arrive in Calgary with a bit of momentum on their side. They are riding a three-game winning spree, their first string of back-to-back-to-back victories since February 2023. They own a 4-3-0 record since Luke Richardson was fired as bench boss and Anders Sorensen was handed the reins on an interim basis. Bedard has been a point-per-game player since the coaching change, although he has been blanked in his past two outings. It’s crazy to think that the reigning Calder Trophy winner is still young enough to be eligible for the world junior tournament, although there was never a chance the 19-year-old Bedard would be loaned to Team Canada.
The quote
“Sometimes when you make a coaching change, things change a little bit, so they’re playing with a little bit of renewed energy. I think the skill side of their games, with their forwards, is showing up again and they’re a dangerous team when they get room. They have one of the better young players in the league, we all know that. So there’s a challenge for our team to make sure that we play very similar to the way we did (Thursday) against a team that likes to leave the zone, likes to try to get behind you. We have to just stay focused on what we have to do.”
— Flames head coach Ryan Huska on the Blackhawks
The news
- The Flames have already played a dozen games that required overtime or a shootout, the most of any team in the NHL this fall. They are 5-7 when the outcome is not yet settled after 60 minutes.
- Rising-star Bedard is still shooting for his first career goal against the Flames. He’s faced the Calgary-based crew twice and has been limited to one assist.
- Blackhawks blue-liner Seth Jones, sidelined since mid-November due to a foot injury, could return to action in Calgary.
- Flames forwards Ryan Lomberg and Martin Pospisil were excused from Friday’s practice for maintenance, but it’s believed both will be good to go against the Blackhawks. Head coach Huska confirmed that slumping right-winger Andrei Kuzmenko has recovered from his lower-body injury, so he could be an option.
- Pospisil was credited with nine collisions in Thursday’s overtime loss to the Senators, becoming one of 15 NHLers so far this season to register 100-plus hits.
- While the Flames switch to holiday mode after Saturday’s afternoon affair, the Blackhawks will make a stop Monday in Minnesota before they start their Christmas vacation.
The projected lineup
- Forwards
- Huberdeau-Kadri-Pospisil
- Coleman-Backlund-Coronato
- Pelletier-Zary-Sharangovich
- Lomberg-Rooney-Duehr
- Defence
- Bahl-Andersson
- Hanley-Weegar
- Bean-Pachal
- Goalies
- Wolf
- Vladar
The injuries
- Flames forwards Justin Kirkland and Anthony Mantha are both out for the remainder of the season due to knee injuries.