Flames Game Day 46: The guns of Columbus (7pm MT, SN West)

Last week, the Calgary Flames (26-13-6, 58 points) played three games in four nights and won them all. They celebrated that achievement by acquiring Tyler Toffoli from Montreal and he’s arrived in time for Tuesday’s game with the Columbus Blue Jackets (23-22-1, 47 points). The Flames are a confident, deep team that’s gotten a bit more offensive firepower. Can they keep their winning streak alive heading into another busy week?

This game gets going just after 7 p.m. MT. You can catch the action on Sportsnet West and Sportsnet 960 The Fan.

Projected lines via Daily Faceoff:

Gaudreau – Lindholm – Tkachuk
Coleman – Backlund – Mangiapane
Dube – Monahan – Toffoli
Lucic – Ruzicka – Lewis

Hanifin – Andersson
Kylington – Tanev
Zadorov – Gudbranson

@Daniel Vladar starts for the Flames, backed up by @Jacob Markstrom – it’s Vladar’s first start in over a month. The Flames are hosting Anaheim on Wednesday evening, so presumably Markstrom gets the start against the divisional rival. Calgary’s active extras are @Brett Ritchie, @Michael Stone and @Brad Richardson.

@Tyler Toffoli debuts for the Flames, wearing #73 and starting out on a line with @Dillon Dube and @Sean Monahan. I would expect him to eventually get integrated into the team’s special teams units, but I wouldn’t expect the team to make big changes right now given that all Toffoli has had with the team in terms of on-ice experience is a single morning skate. They have some practice time after Saturday’s game with Seattle, so expect him to get more of a substantial role eventually (but maybe not immediately).

The Flames have won six in a row and are a single point from the Pacific Division lead. They are playing very well and the hope is that they maintain their momentum as they roll into the back half of February.

Projected lines via Daily Faceoff:

Laine – Jenner – Bjorkstrand
Voracek – Sillinger – Chinakhov
Nyquist – Kuraly – Domi
Fix-Wolansky – Roslovic – Gaunce

Werenski – Peeke
Gavrikov – Boqvist
Bayreuther – Kukan

@Elvis Merzlikins starts for the Jackets, backed up by Joonas Korpisalo. Their projected extras are @Gabriel Carlsson and @Emil Bemstrom.

The Jackets are a Very .500 Team, wobbling between wins and losses lately. They got a dramatic victory on Saturday night in Montreal, winning with a late goal from @Patrik Laine. The Jackets are a team full of a lot of fun players, but they haven’t really gelled this season and they’ve suffered a ton of injuries that has likely contributed to that.

The last time they faced the Flames, they lost by a touchdown.

The Flames are healthy.

The Blue Jackets are without Nathan Gerbe, Justin Danforth, Jake Bean, Alexandre Texier, Eric Robinson and Emil Bemstrom.

The Flames clobbered Columbus by a 6-0 score back late January.

Your recommended Twitter follows for tonight’s contest: