Game Day: Flames Hope to Stay Hot, Cool Penguins

Winners of four of their last five games, the Calgary Flames (9-7-2) are in the former Igloo taking on an equally hot Pittsburgh Penguins (9-7-3) squad on Wednesday.

The Flames beat the Pens' cross-state rival in Philadelphia on Monday, scoring a 5-2 win over the Flyers. It was their second win in their third game of a season-long six-game road trip and was one of their most complete games this year. 

Streaky is one way to describe their first quarter of this season. The Flames started 5-1, lost seven in a row, and now have won two straight and four of five. There has been a lot of line adjustment up front and some experimentation with call-up players and pairings on the blueline. But things seem to be going well with the current combinations. 

Blake Coleman had three points in his 400th NHL game in Philly, and playing with Jonathan Huberdeau and Mikael Backlund is an unexpected wrinkle that could really work out while it lasts. Dillon Dube also got his first since the season opener. 

The matchup down the middle should be a good one with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jeff Carter going head-to-head with Elias Lindholm, Nazem Kadri and Mikael Backlund. 

"We think we're a veteran centreman group but you look at their veteran centremen — they're older than ours," Calgary Flames head coach Darryl Sutter joked after the morning skate. "It's pretty cool, actually."

He has a particular fondness for Carter, who was part of two of his Stanley Cup teams in Los Angeles. 

The Penguins are attempting to win their fourth game in a row on the eve of Thanksgiving — the American version. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has 10 points in his last three games and is on pace for a point total he hasn't reached since his second NHL season.

The Pens didn't play well against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday, in Evgeni Malkin’s 1,000th game. But the Penguins got a big goal Crosby moments after Chicago tied the game late in the third period. Crosby also set up Jeff Carter’s empty-net goal in the Penguins’ 5-3 win.

Injured forward Brett Ritchie took a spin on the ice after the Flames' morning skate, but isn't expected to play. 

Dan Vladar was in the starter's net and looks like he'll make his fifth start this year. 

Calgary Flames Projected Lineup

Forwards: 

Ruzicka-Lindholm-Toffoli

Dube-Kadri-Mangiapane

Huberdeau-Backlund-Coleman

Lucic-Rooney-Lewis

Defence:

Hanafin-Andersson

Zadarov-Weegar

Gilbert-Tanev

Goalie:

Dan Vladar

Pittsburgh Penguins Projected Lineup

Forwards:

Guentzel-Crosby-Rakell

Zucker-Malkin-Rust

McGinn-Carter-Heinen

Poehling-Blueger-Archibald

Defence:

Pettersson-Letang

Joseph-Petry

Dumoulin-Rutta

Goalie:

Jarry