Flames-Ducks Game Day Preview, Notes, How to Watch 

Fresh off possibly their strongest performance of the season in a 3-1 win over the Florida Panthers, the Calgary Flames have an opportunity to both seize a .500 winning percentage as well as record their first three-game winning streak of the season tonight against the Anaheim Ducks. Here is your game day preview.

Calgary Flames (13-14-5, 31 pts) vs Anaheim Ducks (12-19-0, 24 pts)      

Time: 8:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.       

TV: Sportsnet One, Sportsnet West, Bally Sports SoCal, ESPN+ 

A rested starter 

After suffering a fractured finger on his blocker hand, a 13-day break for goaltender Jacob Markstrom has appeared to re-invigorate the 33-year-old starting goaltender. Monday’s return to the lineup resulted in a .971 save percentage through three periods in a win over the 12th-place Florida Panthers.  

Also notably rested on Monday was defenceman Chris Tanev, who returned from a three-game absence after taking an awkward hit from Colorado forward Ross Colton. Tanev blocked a career high 10 shots on the night.  

Veteran support 

Don’t look now, but Blake Coleman has nine points in his last seven games. Other notable December scorers include Nazem Kadri (three goals, five assists in nine games) and MacKenzie Weegar (two goals, five assists in nine games).  

Raging Rico 

Coming into tonight fresh off sweeping a New Jersey-Detroit back-to-back, the Anaheim Ducks have found a rare pocket of momentum in a season where they currently sit 29th in the standings. Leading the way has been veteran Adam Henrique who scored four goals in said back-to-back. With only four goals in his first 25 games, the 33-year-old center has exploded for six goals in his last five games.  

Henrique is in the final season of a five-year deal paying $29,125,000. With an annual cap hit of $5,825,000 and a 10-team no-trade list in his contract, it’s possible Adam becomes a deadline acquisition this March. 

Calgary Flames Projected Lineup   

Based on Wednesday’s practice lines. 

Mangiapane-Lindholm-Sharangovich   

Zary-Kadri-Pospisil   

Huberdeau-Backlund-Coleman   

Greer-Ruzicka-Dube     

Weegar-Andersson   

Hanifin-Tanev   

Gilbert-DeSimone   

Markstrom  

Vladar

Anaheim Ducks Projected Lineup 

Based on Wednesday’s practice lines. 

Killorn-Carlsson-Terry  

Vatrano-Henrique-Leason  

Jones-Strome-McGinn  

Johnston-Carrick-Silfverberg  

Fowler-Drysdale  

Mintyukov-Lyubushkin  

LaCombe-Gudas  

Dostal 

Clang 

Around the NHL

Wes Gilbertson picks Flames rookie Connor Zary’s brain about overcoming challenges standing in the way of taking the next step in his career. 

Should the Blackhawks make a call on Phil Kessel after injuries have started to amass?

Three games that could determine the Pittsburgh Penguins’ fate.