Update: Per the Calgary Flames organization, Oliver Kylington has been assigned to the Calgary Wranglers of the AHL. The 6-foot-0 blue liner hasn't seen NHL action since April 29, 2022.

The now 16-16-5 Calgary Flames play number two of a four-game road trip tonight against the staunch and structured 21-16-1 Nashville Predators. While it may be worth celebrating that Calgary has once again reached .500, there is much work to be done to climb back into Wildcard contention. A Calgary win tonight would put the team within a point of the final wildcard position — but with two more games played than Arizona in that spot.

A few notes, thoughts, and observations heading into tonight:

Waiting in the Pocket
After exchanging 4-2 wins between one another this season, you may start to be wrapping your head around the way Nashville plays. There are some similarities in the way Ryan Huska has the Flames playing, but Nashville Head Coach Andrew Brunette takes it to the extreme:

Defensive Zone: Own the middle of the slot in the defensive zone, collapse all players back if necessary, and wait for the other team to screw up.

Neutral Zone: Push the play to the outside, don’t take any risks, wait for a penalty.

Offensive Zone: It’s either a Preds power play, a rare sequence of extended possession, or you’re getting ready to manage the neutral zone.

The Predators have proven straight-line speed but get outmatched when they reach beyond meat and potatoes, North-South play, which should be fine since.

A fire in the crease
2020 11th overall pick Yaroslav Askarov got two appearances to show his stuff last week with a brief injury to backup Kevin Lankinen. The 21-year-old allowed two goals against in 35 shots (.943Sv%) before his emergency call up concluded.

Far be it for any of us to claim that goaltending platoons in the NHL can be ultra competitive between each other, but don’t be surprised if Juuse Saros or Kevin Lankinen bring out some big saves tonight. Saros posted a shutout over the Chicago Blackhawks two days ago and it likely doesn’t end there.

Coleman
Call it surreal. Blake Coleman has seemingly taken the Calgary Flames on his back during the past month and a week. The winger from Plano, Texas has 14 goals and 27 points in 37 games — good for a 31 goal, 60 point pace over 82. All of that without primary offensive deployment.

Slump Busting
Jonathan Huberdeau pulled a nice forehand-backhand deke to end an 18 game goalless streak off a Yegor Sharangovich feed in the first period. Will the snakebitten former star keep it going? The Quebec native now has a goal and an assist in his last two games.

Likewise, Andrew Mangiapane ended a nine game goalless slump with a tip-in in the early first against the Wild. The Flames have a much better chance of being a Wildcard team with either or both of these wingers contributing beyond a cardio workout.

Calgary Flames Projected Lineup
To be updated later today.
Huberdeau-Lindholm-Sharangovich
Zary-Kadri-Pospisil
Mangiapane-Backlund-Coleman
Greer-Ruzicka-Dube

Hanifin-Tanev
Gilbert-Andersson
Oesterle-Weegar

Markstrom
Vladar


Game time is 6:00 p.m. MST. Catch the broadcast on Sportsnet West.

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