Detroit Red Wings (25-21-5) at Calgary Flames (25-18-7)
When: Saturday, 8 p.m. MT, Scotiabank Saddledome
TV: Sportsnet/CBC. Radio: Sportsnet 960 The Fan
Odds: Flames -120, Red Wings + 100
The buzz
All eyes are going to be on the new guys.
Shortly after Thursday night’s win over the Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames general manager Craig Conroy pulled off a big trade with the Philadelphia Flyers that could change the complexion of the rest of the season.
Gone are Andrei Kuzmenko and Jakob Pelletier, now with the Flyers.
In return, the Flames got centre Morgan Frost and winger Joel Farabee, two forwards in their mid-20s with plenty of NHL pedigree.
Speaking post-game on Thursday, head coach Ryan Huska said he already had an idea in his head of where the two newcomers will fit in, but nobody outside of the Saddledome seems to be sure. We’ll find out more at the morning skate.
In the Red Wings, the Flames will be taking on a team that’s fighting for its playoff life in a tight Eastern Conference race. They beat the Edmonton Oilers in a shootout and have won four in a row, so the Flames will be hoping their new teammates fit in fast and the whole group can piece together a good performance.
The quote
“I mean, I knew the Flames were in it. But you find out the news and it’s one of the first things you do, and to see where they are, it’s definitely exciting. I think it’s a really good team, and hopefully Joel and I can come in and give them a little bit of a boost.”
— New Flames centre Morgan Frost on joining a team that’s in the playoff hunt
The news
- The Red Wings started the season slow, but since hiring Todd McLellan as their head coach in late December they’ve gone 12-4-1. Nobody should be sleeping on them.
- Blake Coleman led the Flames in points in January, with four goals and eight assists in 12 games. Matt Coronato was second, with nine points, so it will be interesting to see whether Huska keeps their line together with Mikael Backlund at centre.
- Check back after Saturday’s morning skate for lineup news.
The projected lineup
Forwards
Huberdeau-Kadri-Farabee
Coleman-Backlund-Coronato
Pospisil-Frost-Sharangovich
Lomberg-Bishop-Klapka
Defence
Hanley-Andersson
Bean-Weegar
Barrie-Pachal
Goalies
Wolf
Vladar
The injuries
Kevin Bahl is week-to-week with an upper-body ailment. He joins Justin Kirkland, Anthony Mantha and Connor Zary on Calgary’s injured list. Kirkland and Mantha are both lost for the season.