Game Day: Flames Sleepless Before Seattle On Back-To-Back

The Calgary Flames (16-13-7) flew right from Calgary to Seattle following their disappointing 2-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. 

A lack of discipline cost them in an otherwise pretty stellar showing against the Oilers, but the Flames jump right back into the action on Wednesday against one of the most surprising teams in the Pacific Division in the Seattle Kraken (18-10-4).

Points are critical for a Flames team on the outside of the NHL playoff picture. 

"They play hard and they're in a playoff spot and we're not," Calgary Flames veteran winger Tyler Toffoli said ahead of the Kraken contest. "You don't want to get yourself into a routine of winning one and losing one. It's not what a good team does.  

"I think tonight's a really good test against a team that plays hard and doesn't give up much. I think we take pride in creating a lot of opportunities, I think it's a good opportunity for us tonight."

Flames winger Mikael Backlund scored the only goal for his side against the Oilers, and nearly had the tying goal late in the third but hit the post. The Flames would be feeling much more confident coming to Seattle off a victory but they played a strong game overall. 

"It's tough," Backlund said. "It would have been a great feeling to score there, but it's almost worse hitting the posts than them making saves.

"A lot of posts and bars right now. I don't think it's bad luck or anything, it's just the way it is right now. We've got to keep shooting, create chances. We've got to score more than one to win."

Calgary Flames projected lineup

Forwards: 

Dillon Dube – Elias Lindholm – Tyler Toffoli

Jonathan Huberdeau – Nazem Kadri – Milan Lucic

Andrew Mangiapane – Mikael Backlund – Blake Coleman

Adam Ruzicka – Trevor Lewis – Brett Ritchie

Defence: 

Noah Hanifin – Rasmus Andersson

MacKenzie Weegar – Chris Tanev

Nikita Zadorov – Michael Stone

Goaltender

Dan Vladar

Seattle Kraken projected lineup

Forwards:

Schwartz – Wennberg – Burakovsky 

McCann – Beniers – Eberle 

Donato – Gourde – Bjorkstrand 

Tanev – Geekie – Sprong 

Defence: 

Larsson – Dunn 

Oleksiak – Schultz 

Soucy – Borgen 

Goaltender: 

Grubauer