Flames Game Day 24: Here come the Capitals (8pm MT, CBC/SNW/960)

Looking for a bounce-back from a good effort with a disappointing result on Thursday night, the Calgary Flames (10-10-3, 23 points) host the Washington Capitals (10-11-4, 24 points) at the Saddledome on Saturday evening. The Flames desperately need traction in the Western Conference standings, while the Capitals are looking to rebound from an overtime loss in Seattle.

The broadcast begins at 8 p.m. MT on CBC, Sportsnet West and Sportsnet 960 The Fan!

Projected lines courtesy Daily Faceoff:

Huberdeau – Lindholm – Toffoli
Dube – Kadri – Mangiapane
Ruzicka – Backlund – Coleman
Lucic – Rooney – Lewis

Hanifin – Andersson
Weegar – Tanev
Zadorov – Stone

We’re projecting Dan Vladar to start, backed up by Jacob Markstrom. The projected extras are Connor Mackey and Brett Ritchie. Kevin Rooney returns to action for the first time in awhile.

The Flames have lost four of their last five games. They haven’t played poorly, but they just haven’t scored enough goals. Their lone win in their last five was a game where they put up six goal. Heck, if they could consistent score two or three goals per game, they may be in business. But their offence remains snake-bit right now, and three goals somehow seems like a bridge too far.

This is the debut game for the club’s second Reverse Retro jersey, a black version of the classic 1990s pedestal jersey.

Projected lines courtesy Daily Faceoff:

We’re projecting Darcy Kuemper as the starter, backed up by Charlie Lindgren. Their projected extras are Alexander Alexeyev, Nicolas Aube-Kubel and Joe Snively.

Alex Ovechkin is seven goals away from 800 in his career. He’s already third all-time and a first ballot Hall of Famer, but he’s creeping up on Gordie Howe for second-most goals in NHL history and entering some truly rarefied air.

Continuing the trend of ex-Flames returning, keep an eye on Garnet Hathaway on Saturday evening.

The Flames are without Oliver Kylington.

The Capitals are without Nicklas Backstrom, Beck Malenstyn, Carl Hagelin, Tom Wilson, Connor Brown and Dmitry Orlov.

This is the second and final meeting between these teams this season. The Capitals beat the Flames 3-0 at home during the Flames’ last road trip.

Here are your recommended follows from Capitals Twitter: