So far during the Calgary Flames’ (30-23-11, 71 points) current homestand, they’ve played two incomplete games but managed to capture three of a possible six points. They’ll need to play a much more complete effort on Friday evening, as they close out their week of home games with a visit from the powerful Colorado Avalanche (39-24-3, 81 points), a team that’s added some weapons as they prepare for the post-season. The Flames? They’re very much in the playoff fight, but will likely be without a pair of key players against Colorado.

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

Guesswork lines based on information from morning skate:

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

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. Per Sportsnet’s Pat Steinberg, Brayden Pachal stayed on late after morning skate so he seems destined to be their extra. Connor Zary misses this game due to suspension. Mikael Backlund misses this game due to injury, snapping a stretch of 328 consecutive games played for the Flames captain. Yegor Sharangovich will slot in at centre, but we’ll see precisely how lines look during warm-up.

The Flames are 4-2-4 over their past 10 games. They haven’t played especially poorly, but they’ve taken their foot off the gas pedal in the third period in each of their past two games. When they play three good periods, they’re a tough team to beat – even if, on paper, the other team is more skilled than they are. But their margin for error is basically nil, so they need to find that level of focus and maintain it for their remaining 18 games.

Projected lines via Daily Faceoff:

Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Necas
Jonathan Drouin – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin
Joel Kiviranta – Charlie Coyle – Ross Colton
Parker Kelly – Jack Drury – Logan O’Connor

Devon Toews – Cale Makar
Ryan Lindgren – Josh Manson
Samuel Girard – Erik Johnson

The Denver Gazette’s Evan Rawal is reporting that Scott Wedgewood starts for Colorado, with an under-the-weather Mackenzie Blackwood backing him up. Their projected extras are Miles Wood, Jimmy Vesey, Sam Malinski and Keaton Middleton.

The Avalanche are, well, a wagon. Their arguably weak spot is in goal – I don’t think anyone thinks Blackwood is a Vezina contender – but take a long look at the rest of their lineup. Their blueline group is deep and balanced, and features a heck of a top pairing. Their forward group has players well-suited to their roles, and a legit Hart Trophy candidate leading the way.

The Avalanche are 7-2-1 over their past 10 games. They’re rounding into form at the right time of year.

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

The Avalanche are without Gabriel Landeskog and Tucker Poolman.

This is game two of three between these teams this season. Colorado beat the Flames by a 4-2 score back in February. They close out their season series on Mar. 31 in Denver.