Calgary Flames Game Day 47: A Tuesday evening with the Blues (7pm MT)

After losing twice last week against a couple pretty good hockey teams, the Calgary Flames (21-20-5, 47 points) are back in action and looking to regain some ground in the Western Conference’s playoff race. Their opponent on Tuesday evening is a team they’re battling with for a wildcard spot, the St. Louis Blues (22-20-2, 46 points). Can the Flames bounce back from two tight losses against a couple powerhouse teams?

The broadcast begins at 7 p.m. MT on Sportsnet One and Sportsnet 960 The Fan. The Flames opened as -160 favourites against the Blues on Betway.

Projected lines courtesy Daily Faceoff:

Huberdeau – Lindholm – Sharangovich
Zary – Kadri – Coronato
Mangiapane – Backlund – Coleman
Greer – Schwindt – Klapka

Hanifin – Tanev
Andersson – Weegar
Gilbert – Oesterle

We’re projecting Jacob Markstrom to start in net, backed up by Dan Vladar. The projected extra skaters are Adam Ruzicka and Nick DeSimone. Markstrom returns after missing last week with a minor malady. Otherwise, looks to be the same 18 skaters as played against Edmonton on Saturday night. Cole Schwindt is slated to play his first game with the Flames (after three with the Panthers a few seasons ago).

On one hand, the Flames lost to Toronto and Edmonton. On the other hand: they were actually pretty decent in each game. Did they make enough mistakes to find ways to lose? Yes. But did they get their show run by a couple of teams with high skill levels? Nope. They hung in there. And if the Flames can tidy up some of their neutral zone details – the types that led to ill-timed turnovers against Toronto and Edmonton – then maybe they can get on another run.

Keep an eye on Matt Coronato. He seemed a bit on his heels against Edmonton, but with a bit of extra time to get adjusted back to the NHL he should be more noticeable (for positive reasons) against the Blues.

Projected lines courtesy Daily Faceoff:

Buchnevich – Thomas – Kyrou
Saad – Schenn – Neighbours
Walker – Hayes – Gaudette
Alexandrov – Sundqvist – Toropchenko

Leddy – Parayko
Krug – Faulk
Scandella – Krug

We’re projecting Jordan Binnington to start in net, backed up by Joel Hofer. The expected extras are Samuel Blais and Scott Perunovich.

The Blues are, as the kids say, “mid.” (Did I use that term right?) They’ve won exactly half of their games this season. Since the beginning of 2024, they’re 4-3-1. Since Christmas, they’re 5-5-1. They’ve got depth and a bunch of pretty good players – we’re looking at you, Colton Parayko, Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas – but arguably no elite players or true superstars. They’re a team that wins by playing a structured system and making their opponents come to them.

And it works about half of the time.

The Flames are without Oliver Kylington, Dillon Dube and Martin Pospisil.

The Blues are without Kasperi Kapanen and Tyler Tucker.

This is the second of three games between these teams this season. The Blues shut out the Flames 3-0 back in October. They’ll close out their season series in St. Louis in late March.