The Calgary Flames are back in action tonight as they play host to the Vancouver Canucks.
The Flames are coming off a 3-0 win over the Winnipeg Jets, in a game that featured few NHLers, while the Canucks are coming off a 5-3 win against an Edmonton Oilers team that dressed Connor McDavid, Milan Lucic and Jordan Eberle, among others.
Here is the lineup the Flames will go with this evening:
Matthew Tkachuk - Sam Bennett - Troy Brouwer Hunter Shinkaruk - Matt Stajan - Michael Ferland Chris Higgins - Freddie Hamilton - Alex Chiasson Morgan Klimchuk - Mark Jankowski - Garnet Hathaway
Mark Giordano - Dougie Hamilton Oliver Kylington - Dennis Wideman Tyler Wotherspoon - Deryk Engelland
Brian Elliott Tyler Parsons
A few notes:
1) I'm really looking forward to seeing Dougie Hamilton alongside Mark Giordano. In their limited time together last season they actually controlled play a little better than the Giordano - Brodie pairing, although the difference could come from something as minor as both players playing their strong side. Either way it'll be nice to see Hamilton partnered with a defenseman not named Kris Russell.
2) I like that the Flames continue to put Tkachuk in a position to succeed with legitimate NHLers as linemates. I imagine he'll get at least a few regular season games even if he's sent back to London but each strong showing, preseason or otherwise, will definitely help his cause.
3) Sam Bennett was fantastic in his preseason debut at center. He made things happen almost every time he touched the ice and was the game's best player in possession. If he continues to perform well down the middle it'll make the Flames very dangerous with a 1-2-3 punch of Sean Monahan, Mikael Backlund and Bennett.
Puck drop is just after 9 eastern and can be seen on Sportsnet One.
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