Playoff FGD: The swing game (4:45pm MT, SN)

Just 24 hours after the conclusion of Game 3, the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets will clash in a crucial Game 3 at Rogers Place in Edmonton with control of their Qualifying Round series hanging in the balance. Calgary looked great in Game 1 and not great in Game 2. Can they find some consistency and find a way to re-take the series lead?

The puck drops for Game 3 at 4:45 p.m. MT on Sportsnet’s national feed (with Chris Cuthbert and Louie DeBrusk) and Sportsnet 960 The Fan (with Derek Wills and Peter Loubardias).

Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:

There’s no game day skate today because of the back-to-back situation. Based on Geoff Ward’s comments, it seems likely that Cam Talbot starts again in Game 3 and is backed up by David Rittich. The projected extras are Austin Czarnik, Byron Froese, Mark Jankowski, Alan Quine, Buddy Robinson, Oliver Kylington, Michael Stone, Juuso Valimaki, Alexander Yelesin, Jon Gillies and Artyom Zagidulin.

One possible lineup change could be Zac Rinaldo being swapped out. Rinaldo played zero minutes in the third period of Game 2, so perhaps somebody like Alan Quine, Austin Czarnik or Mark Jankowski swap back in.

The Flames were pretty flat for much of Game 2, and perhaps the back-to-back situation is ideal for them: rather than stew about a crappy result, they can jump right back into things. The Flames were 4-2-0 this season the day after a loss during the regular season.

Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:

Connor Hellebuyck starts for the Jets, backed up by Laurent Brossoit. The Game 2 healthy extras were David Gustafsson, Mark Letestu, Anthony Bitetto, Carl Dahlstrom, Sami Niku, Luca Sbisa, Mikhail Berdin and Eric Comrie, while Mark Scheifele, Patrik Laine and Mason Appleton were un-healthy extras.

Given how good Winnipeg looked in Game 2, don’t expect them to rush their battered stars back in immediately. Granted, they all sound like they’ll be back eventually, but the Jets’ new lines had superb chemistry and played well so head coach Paul Maurice will probably roll with ’em.

The Flames are without D Travis Hamonic (opted out).

The Jets are without F Bryan Little (head). F Mason Appleton (undisclosed), F Mark Scheifele (lower body) and F Patrik Laine (upper body) are doubtful and all missed Game 2.

The series is tied at 1-1. The Flames won Game 1 by a 4-1 score. The Jets won Game 2 by a 3-2 score.

Here are some key Twitter peeps to follow for tonight: