Calgary Flames (16-11-7) at San Jose Sharks (11-21-6)
When: Saturday, 8 p.m. MT, SAP Center
TV: CBC/Sportsnet. Radio: Sportsnet 960 The Fan
Odds: Flames -146, Sharks +122
The buzz
Flames fans have picked their horse in the rookie-of-the-year race — the C of Red is obviously rooting for netminder Dustin Wolf to nab the Calder Trophy. On Saturday, as the Flames face the Sharks in San Jose, they’ll get their first glimpse of one of the other frontrunners. Macklin Celebrini, the first-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, has come as advertised for the Sharks. The 18-year-old forward picked up an assist on a must-see shift in Friday’s 6-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. Despite being the youngest player in the league, he is averaging a point-per-game as a freshman, with 11 goals and 15 helpers in 26 outings so far. We will likely be waiting a little longer for the first Wolf vs. Celebrini showdown. Based on their rotation, Dan Vladar will be between the pipes for the Flames as they open a two-games-in-two-nights roadie.
The quote
“I have watched their power-play here over the Christmas break and it doesn’t take you long to see the type of player that he is. When I watched Connor Bedard last year for the first time, he is very much that type of player, where he’s very dynamic on his own. You can see how special of a player this young man is going to be.”
— Flames head coach Ryan Huska on Sharks rookie Macklin Celebrini
The news
- Flames winger Blake Coleman is riding a five-game point spree, with three goals and three assists during that span. Matt Coronato is also streaking, having hit the scoresheet in four-straight.
- Based on Friday’s practice units, Andrei Kuzmenko will be scratched for the seventh time in a 10-game stretch. At least one of those absences can be blamed on a lower-body injury, but the slumping right-winger is now healthy.
- Old friend Tyler Toffoli, who spent a season and a half at the Saddledome, is currently the Sharks’ leading lamp lighter, with 14 markers.
- William Eklund, who is second among Sharks in both assists and points, is sidelined by an upper-body injury.
- The Flames have won seven of their past eight against the Men in Teal, including four in a row at SAP Center.
The projected lineup
- Forwards
- Huberdeau-Kadri-Pospisil
- Coleman-Backlund-Coronato
- Pelletier-Zary-Sharangovich
- Lomberg-Rooney-Duehr
- Defence
- Bahl-Andersson
- Hanley-Weegar
- Bean-Pachal
- Goalies
- Vladar
- Wolf
The injuries
Flames forwards Justin Kirkland and Anthony Mantha are both recovering from season-ending knee surgeries.