Two days after a dramatic comeback win over Pittsburgh, the Calgary Flames (5-0-1, 11 points) continue their homestand and aim to continue their improbable hot streak against the formidable Carolina Hurricanes (3-2-0, 6 points). The Flames are scrappy and find ways to win. The Hurricanes are downright good at hockey and are better than their record suggests. It could be a fascinating evening of hockey at the Saddledome, serving as a gigantic measuring stick game for the Flames.

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

Via Sportsnet’s Pat Steinberg:

Andrei Kuzmenko – Nazem Kadri – Martin Pospisil
Jonathan Huberdeau – Justin Kirkland – Anthony Mantha
Connor Zary – Mikael Backlund – Blake Coleman
Ryan Lomberg – Kevin Rooney – Matt Coronato

Kevin Bahl – Rasmus Andersson
MacKenzie Weegar – Daniil Miromanov
Jake Bean – Brayden Pachal

Coming off a win, we’re projecting the goalie rotation to continue with Dan Vladar starting and Dustin Wolf working the gate as backup. The projected healthy extras look to be Adam Klapka, Joel Hanley and Tyson Barrie. Kevin Rooney will likely be activated from the injury reserve list and inserted into the lineup, which bumps Klapka out.

What can we say about the Flames that we haven’t said a bunch already? Are they a perfect hockey team? Nope. Are they awful? Also nope. They’re good enough to hang around in games, and play a really pain-in-the-ass style for opposition teams to deal with. They sometimes lack in their execution, but they work hard and try to wear teams down. So far, through six games, that’s worked incredibly well for them.

We’ll see if it’s enough to earn points against a really good hockey team.

Here’s how the ‘Canes looked against Edmonton on Tuesday night:

Andrei Svechnikov – Sebastian Aho – Seth Jarvis
Jack Roslovic – Jesper Kotkaniemi – Martin Necas
Jordan Martinook – Jordan Staal – William Carrier
Jackson Blake – Jack Drury – Eric Robinson

Jaccob Slavin – Brent Burns
Shayne Gostisbehere – Sean Walker
Dmitry Orlov – Jaden Chatfield

We’re projecting Frederik Andersen to start in net, backed up by Pyotr Kochetkov. Ty Smith projects to be their lone extra healthy skater.

Let’s be blunt here: the Hurricanes are skilled, deep and dangerous. They are a possession beast. They’re the team the Flames would like to be when they grow up. And while the ‘Canes have found ways to lose a couple times this season, they’re a terrifying opponent if you don’t have your wits about you. Let’s see what the Flames have up their sleeves against a really formidable opponent.

The Flames are without Yegor Sharangovich and Sam Honzek, though they both made appearances at morning skate.

The Hurricanes are without Jesper Fast.

This is the first of two games between the Flames and the ‘Canes. They finish things off in Raleigh on Mar. 2.