Calgary Flames Recall Matthew Coronato for Battle of Alberta

Calgary’s 13th overall pick at the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Matthew Coronato, was recalled on Saturday morning and will fill in for Martin Pospisil on a line with Nazem Kadri and Connor Zary.

The product of Huntington, New York, has 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points in 27 AHL games this season. The 21-year-old played through October with the Flames and a one-game call-up in December against the New Jersey Devils. The 5-foot-10 sniper has a goal and an assist in 11 NHL games in 2023-2024.

Pospisil is expected to miss several weeks after an unfortunate skate-on-skate collision with Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews led to the 24-year-old Slovak hitting his head on the boards. Pospisil has a history of concussions and may need extended time off.

Martin Pospisil fell awkwardly into the boards. He was in a lot of pain and needed help getting off the ice.

🎥: Sportsnet | NHL pic.twitter.com/vFmHLd9QDX

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) January 19, 2024

The move provides Coronato with an opportunity to work on Calgary’s hottest line. Per MoneyPuck’s data modeling, the line of Zary-Kadri-Pospisil ranks 20th in the league in expected goals percentage at 59%. In terms of actual results, the line has outscored the opposition 13-4 at even strength for a 76.5% differential and 6th place league-wide in that category.

Tossed into the fire against Calgary’s archrival, the Edmonton Oilers, Coronato will have a big challenge ahead of him tonight as the two teams meet for round two of the Battle of Alberta.