After a week out east, the Calgary Flames (33-25-11, 77 points) are back at the cozy confines of the Saddledome for a couple games. Up first are the Seattle Kraken (30-36-5, 65 points), a non-playoff team that are aiming to play spoiler for a Flames club that’s hoping to reel in St. Louis for the final wild card spot. Can the Flames keep the momentum rolling from their road trip?

Today’s broadcast begins at 7 p.m. MT on Sportsnet West and Sportsnet 960 The Fan.

Projected lines via Daily Faceoff:

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

Kevin Bahl – Rasmus Andersson
Joel Hanley – MacKenzie Weegar
Jake Bean – Daniil Miromanov

We’re projecting Dustin Wolf to start in net, backed up by Dan Vladar. The projected extras look to be Brayden Pachal and Dryden Hunt. Mikael Backlund is back practising but, per Sportsnet’s Derek Wills, skated late after morning skate and looks to be out tonight. Joel Farabee (illness) and MacKenzie Weegar (lower body) missed Saturday’s game against the Islanders, but look like they’re back in against the Kraken.

The Flames have won three games in a row and while the games weren’t perfect, they’ve found ways to win. We will concede, though, that they utterly dominated a pretty blah New York Rangers group on Tuesday night. When the Flames move their legs, roll their lines and play their game, they can be a pretty tough team to beat.

On paper, we do like the look of this Flames forward group – and yes, it does feel like Sharangovich, who’s struggled lately, is the logical player to remove in favour of Backlund. Keep an eye on Coronato, Kadri and Huberdeau, all of which had really productive road trips.

The Flames begin Tuesday’s action four points behind St. Louis for the final Western Conference playoff spot… with three games in hand.

Projected lines via Daily Faceoff:

Jaden Schwartz – Shane Wright – Jordan Eberle
Kaapo Kakko – Matty Beniers – Jani Nyman
Eeli Tolvanen – Jared McCann – Andre Burakovsky
Tye Kartye – John Hayden – Michael Eyssimont

Vince Dunn – Adam Larsson
Ryker Evans – Brandon Montour
Jamie Oleksiak – Josh Mahura

We’re projecting Joey Daccord to start in net for Seattle, backed up by Philipp Grubauer. Their projected extra skater is Cale Fleury.

The Kraken open Tuesday’s action 16 points behind St. Louis for the Western Conference’s final playoff spot. They are mathematically alive, but they’re basically playing spoiler now. They’re a loose group and they’ve played the Flames tough this season, so they’re not to be taken lightly.

The Flames are without Anthony Mantha, Justin Kirkland and Mikael Backlund.

The Kraken are without Chandler Stephenson.

This is the fourth and final meeting between these division rivals this season. Seattle has won two of their first three meetings (both in overtime). Conversely, the Flames have captured four of a possible six points against the Kraken.