Can Flames Ice Sidney? Game 6: Lines Notes & What to Watch vs. Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins (4-1-1) had a rough night up north on Monday. The Calgary Flames (4-1-0) have a great record and have beat some big opponents but haven’t yet played their best. These two teams clash at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday night.

A 6-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers wasn’t the way the Penguins wanted to start their tour through Alberta. The Flames are coming off a 3-2 overtime comeback victory against Eastern powerhouse Carolina. It doesn’t get much easier with the Pens capable of carrying the play and lighting up shot clocks everywhere this season. Puck drop is just after 7 p.m. MST.

For the Flames, it’s another test of their centre depth. Crosby, Malkin and veteran Jeff Carter will be countered by Elias Lindholm, Nazem Kadri and Mikael Backlund. Kadri and Backlund have been two of the Calgary Flames’ best players early this season. Defenceman Rasmus Andersson has also stood out among a loaded back end and is tied with Kadri for the team lead with six points.

The Penguins are paced by Sid the Kid, who’s far from a kid but playing like it with four goals and 11 points in six games so far.

Calgary Flames projected lineup

Forwards:

Jonathan Huberdeau – Elias Lindholm – Tyler Toffoli
Dillon Dube – Nazem Kadri – Andrew Mangiapane
Blake Coleman – Mikael Backlund – Trevor Lewis
Milan Lucic – Kevin Rooney – Brett Ritchie

Defence:

Hanifin – Andersson
Weegar – Tanev
Zadorov – Stone

Goal:

Jacob Markstrom (confirmed)
Dan Vladar

Pittsburgh Penguins projected lines (from Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

Forwards:

Danton Heinen — Sidney Crosby — Rickard Rakell
Jason Zucker — Evgeni Malkin — Bryan Rust
Brock McGinn — Jeff Carter — Kasperi Kapanen
Drake Caggiula — Ryan Poehling — Josh Archibald

Defence:

Brian Dumoulin — Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson — Jeff Petry
P.O. Joseph — Jan Rutta

Goal:

Casey DeSmith
Tristan Jarry