Welcome back, Flames fans.
The 2022-23 preseason schedule kicks off tonight with a pair of games between the Flames and Vancouver Canucks – the first beginning at 5 pm MT at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena, while the second of the two ‘split-squad’ tilts will begin one hour later. at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Video: Brendan Parker sets up tonight’s double bill
The Flames got a chance to get their sea legs under them with a red-white scrimmage on Saturday at the ‘Dome. The game featured one 20-minute period of 5-on-5 play, followed by an eight-minute frame of 4-on-4 action, before returning to 5-on-5 for the final six minutes.
Clark Bishop and Sonny Milano tallied for Red, while Adam Klapka – who earned all sorts of praise from Head Coach Sutter for his work in Penticton – replied for White in a losing cause.
“It’s important to have fun out there,” he said Elias Lindholmwho’s centered the top line with Tyler Toffoli and newcomer Jonathan Huberdeau throughout the camp so far. “We want to get the details going and get Jonny used to the new system and stuff like that. Obviously, he’s a really good player and I’m excited to start with him.”
This is the first (and second) of eight exhibition games for the Flames, who will knock five off the slate in the first seven days of the schedule. On Tuesday, they’ll visit the Seattle Kraken before hosting the Edmonton Oilers less than 24 hours later, before making the short trek up the QEII for a Battle of Alberta rematch on Friday.
“I think things we’ve talked about in terms of identity, X’s and O’s, things like that,” Sutter said of what he would like to see in the games tonight. “Work ethic. I don’t think any of those areas are problems with our team.
“There’s a lot of new guys to the organization that are playing the next two games that played different styles, different systems, obviously different teammates. So, that’s all you’re looking for.”
Tonight’s home game will be available right here on CalgaryFlames.com and the Flames app beginning at 6 pm MT. Look for the big link on the homepage at that time. You can’t miss it!
The road game, meanwhile, can be seen live on Sportsnet.
WHO’S IN, WHO’S OUT?
The Canucks have announced that veterans Conor Garland, Elias Pettersson, Bo Horvat, Luke Schenn, Danny DeKeyser, Tyler Myers and more will stay back in Vancouver for the earlier game. So, expect a ‘lighter’ version to make the trip over the Rockies to face what should be a veteran-laden Flames team.
As for the Flames…
CALGARY ROSTER
Forwards
10 – Jonathan Huberdeau – LW
11 – Mikael Backlund – C
15 – Sonny Milano – LW
20 – Blake Coleman – LW
28 – Elias Lindholm – C
29 – Dillon Dube – L/RW
38 – Brett Sutter – C
47 – Connor Zary – C
50 – Cody Eakin – C
61 – Clark Bishop – C/W
71 – Walker Duehr – RW
73 – Tyler Toffoli – RW
Defensemen
3 – Connor Mackey
4 – Rasmus Andersson
46 – Colton Poolman
52 – MacKenzie Weegar
55 – Noah Hanifin
72 – Jeremy Poirier
Goaltenders
35 – Oscar Dansk
80 – Dan Vladar
VANCOUVER ROSTER
Forwards
17 – Milan Lucic – LW
21 – Kevin Rooney – C
22 – Trevor Lewis – RW
24 – Brett Ritchie – RW
41 – Matthew Phillips – RW
43 – Adam Klapka – RW
49 – Jakob Pelletier – LW
63 – Adam Ruzicka – C
64 – Ben Jones – C
75 – Mitch McLain – C
76 – Martin Pospisil – RW
79 – Cole Schwindt – C
Defensemen
6 – Juuso Valimaki
16 – Nikita Zadorov
26 – Michael Stone
48 – Dennis Gilbert
53 – Nicolas Meloche
57 – Nick DeSimone
Goaltenders
32 – Dustin Wolf
40 – Daniil Chechelev
Video: “It’s finally a game here”
SECURE YOUR SEATS
Tickets for tonight’s game and ALL regular-season home games are on sale now! CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE.
YOU COULD WIN BIG!
The Flames Foundation is thrilled to announce that the online 50/50 program, presented by RE/MAX, will return for the 2022-23 preseason and regular season. Tickets can be purchased HERE between 9:00 am MT and 11:00 pm MT on all Flames game days – home and away. Tickets are also available for purchase in-person during all Flames home games.
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