Calgary Flames (24-16-7) at Winnipeg Jets (34-13-3)
When: Sunday, 4 p.m. MT, Canada Life Centre
TV: Sportsnet West. Radio: Sportsnet 960 The Fan
Odds: Flames +190, Jets -235
The buzz
There was no post-game update on Kevin Bahl.
The Calgary Flames lost the defenceman early in the second period of Saturday night’s 5-4 win over the Minnesota Wild after he was hit from behind into the boards by Jakub Lauko, who later had to answer for it by fighting Ryan Lomberg.
The hit was only punished with a two-minute minor for boarding, but it didn’t look good and Bahl was clearly in rough shape. He was able to eventually get to his feet and skate to the bench, but immediately went to the locker room and did not return.
Bahl has been playing first-pairing minutes since the start of the season alongside Rasmus Andersson and losing him for any period of time would be a blow for the Flames as they look to solidify their place in the Western Conference playoff race.
Hopefully, there will be good news after the Flames’ morning skate on Sunday in Winnipeg.
The quote
“On the last one, I think it was in Anaheim, I kind of got pushed going into the net, their guy went into their goalie and the puck got caught on my skate and the puck and my skate went into the net and they counted it as a goal. That was my first NHL goal, so it’s good to have one I actually shot and went in the net.”
— Flames forward Clark Bishop, who scored his first NHL goal — and only the second of his career — since Dec. 7, 2018 on Saturday night for the Flames.
The news
• After splitting the starter’s net with Dustin Wolf for the first three and a half months of the season, Dan Vladar has been the Flames’ backup for the last four games. He’s expected to start against the Jets — not an easy assignment.
• The Flames’ win over the Jets last Saturday night was arguably their biggest victory of the year. The Jets have responded by splitting a pair of games with the Utah Hockey Club and beating the Colorado Avalanche in overtime.
• Andrei Kuzmenko has suddenly gotten hot. After not scoring for three months, he’s got three goals in the Flames’ last three games, including two against the Wild.
• Check back for updates after Sunday’s morning skate
The projected lineup
Forwards
Huberdeau-Kadri-Pelletier
Coleman-Backlund-Coronato
Lomberg-Sharangovich-Pospisil
Bishop-Rooney-Kuzmenko
Defence
Bean-Andersson
Weegar-Miromanov
Hanley-Pachal
Goalies
Vladar
Wolf
The injuries
Connor Zary continues to be unavailable indefinitely after suffering a knee injury earlier in the month. Unlike Zary, Justin Kirkland and Anthony Mantha are both lost for the season.
In case you missed it
• Our three takeaways from Saturday’s game