Calgary Flames vs San Jose Sharks: Projected Lineup and Game Preview

Image credits: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

The Calgary Flames are set to take on the San Jose Sharks in a highly anticipated matchup, with the Flames looking to bounce back from a two-week break and gain ground in the Western Conference playoff race. The Flames currently sit three points behind the Vancouver Canucks for the second wild card spot, making this game a must-win. The projected lineup for the Flames includes Jonathan Huberdeau, Nazem Kadri, and Matt Coronato on the top line, with Joel Farabee, Morgan Frost, and Yegor Sharangovich forming the second line. The defense pairings will feature Ilya Solovyov and Rasmus Andersson, Joel Hanley and MacKenzie Weegar, and Jake Bean and Brayden Pachal. In goal, Dustin Wolf will start for the Flames.

The San Jose Sharks, on the other hand, are looking to end their four-game losing streak and implement new systems into their defensive game. The Sharks have been struggling, with a 2-12-1 record in their last 15 games, and will be looking to get their legs into the game early. Alexandar Georgiev will start in goal for the Sharks, with Walker Duehr making his first appearance against his former team. The Sharks will also be boosted by the return of Alexander Wennberg and Nico Sturm from injuries, giving them much-needed depth down the middle. The Calgary Flames will need to be at their best to take advantage of the Sharks' struggles and come out on top.

The game is expected to be a closely contested matchup, with both teams looking to gain an edge in the Western Conference. The Flames will need to capitalize on their scoring opportunities and limit the Sharks' chances in order to come out on top. The Sharks, on the other hand, will be looking to use their new systems to shut down the Flames' offense and get their own offense going. Some key players to watch in the game include Jonathan Huberdeau, who has been a key contributor to the Flames' offense, and Macklin Celebrini, who is averaging 0.89 goals per game for the Sharks. The playoff implications of this game make it a must-watch for fans of both teams.

The Flames' coach, Ryan Huska, has emphasized the importance of staying focused and not getting ahead of themselves, with a six-game road trip looming on the horizon. The Flames will need to take it one game at a time and make sure they are at their best for each matchup. The Sharks, on the other hand, will be looking to use this game as a chance to turn their season around and make a push for the playoffs. The Western Conference playoff race is heating up, and this game is just one of many crucial matchups that will determine which teams make it to the postseason.

Here are the projected lineups for the two teams:

• Flames:
  • Forwards: Jonathan Huberdeau - Nazem Kadri - Matt Coronato, Joel Farabee - Morgan Frost - Yegor Sharangovich, Connor Zary - Mikael Backlund - Blake Coleman, Ryan Lomberg - Kevin Rooney - Martin Pospisil
  • Defence: Ilya Solovyov - Rasmus Andersson, Joel Hanley - MacKenzie Weegar, Jake Bean - Brayden Pachal
  • Goaltender: Dustin Wolf
• Sharks:
  • Forwards: Alexander Barabanov - Tomas Hertl - Kevin Labanc, Alexander Wennberg - Nico Sturm - William Eklund, Walker Duehr - Steven Lorentz - Oskar Lindblom, Evgeny Svechnikov - Scott Reedy - Martin Kaut
  • Defence: Marc-Edouard Vlasic - Erik Karlsson, Matt Benning - Jaycob Megna, Nikolai Knyzhov - Radim Simek
  • Goaltender: Alexandar Georgiev

The game is set to start at 6 p.m. MT, with the Flames looking to take advantage of the Sharks' struggles and come out on top.