For the first time in 13 days, the Calgary Flames (29-23-10, 68 points) have a home game on Saturday night! After a gruelling six game road trip, the Flames are back at it at home and have a big game against the Montreal Canadiens (30-26-6, 66 points). The ‘Dome is going to be buzzing, as they are when the Habs are in town, and the Flames will be in search of two big points in their playoff quest.

Today’s broadcast begins at 5 p.m. MT on Sportsnet West, East, City TV and Sportsnet 960 The Fan.

Projected lines via Daily Faceoff:

Jonathan Huberdeau – Nazem Kadri – Matt Coronato
Blake Coleman – Mikael Backlund – Joel Farabee
Yegor Sharangovich – Morgan Frost – Martin Pospisil
Ryan Lomberg – Kevin Rooney – Connor Zary

Kevin Bahl – Rasmus Andersson
Joel Hanley – MacKenzie Weegar
Jake Bean – Brayden Pachal

We’re projecting Dustin Wolf to start in net, backed up by Dan Vladar. We’re projecting Daniil Miromanov as the lone extra.

The Flames went 2-2-2 on their road trip, facing five of the NHL’s top eight teams in points percentage. When you consider the travel and opposition, six of a possible 12 points is pretty solid and they looked pretty good in most of their games. That said, they need points by hook or crook from here on out.

The Flames have 20 games to go. Their playoff rate is in their own hands. They made zero moves on Friday, opting to bet on the group they’ve assembled. Let’s see if they can reel in a post-season berth. They begin Saturday one point behind Vancouver for the final Western Conference playoff spot.

Projected lines via Daily Faceoff:

Cole Caufield – Nick Suzuki – Juraj Slafkovsky
Alex Newhook – Owen Beck – Patrik Laine
Brendan Gallagher – Christian Dvorak – Josh Anderson
Emil Heineman – Jack Evans – Joel Armia

Mike Matheson – Alexandre Carrier
Jayden Struble – Lane Hutson
Arber Xhekaj – David Savard

Jakub Dobes is slated to start for the Canadiens, backed up by Sam Montembeault. They don’t have any healthy extras. Patrik Laine missed Friday’s practice with an illness, but he’s expected to play.

The Canadiens, like the Flames, made zero moves prior to the trade deadline. They enter the season’s home stretch, like the Flames, right in the middle of their conference’s playoff pack. The Habs are one point behind Ottawa for the second wildcard spot and two points behind Columbus for the first wildcard spot. Expect Montreal to be as focused and engaged as the Flames are. Much like the Flames, the Habs need every point they can get.

The Flames are without Anthony Mantha and Justin Kirkland.

The Canadiens are without Carey Price, David Reinbacher, Kirby Dach, Kaiden Guhle and Michael Pezzetta.

The Flames and Canadiens play twice this season, and this is their final regular season meeting. The Flames beat Montreal in overtime by a 3-2 score back in November. Matt Coronato scored the game-tying and game-winning goals in that one.