When: Friday, 8 p.m. MT, Scotiabank Saddledome Read More
Minnesota Wild (43-29-7) at Calgary Flames (37-27-14) When: Friday, 8 p.m. MT, Scotiabank Saddledome TV: Sportsnet West. Radio: Sportsnet 960 The Fan Odds: Wild -120, Flames +100 The buzz There have been a lot of nights where the Calgary Flames could rightfully say they had to play their biggest game of the year over the last month. This time,
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Minnesota Wild (43-29-7) at Calgary Flames (37-27-14)
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When: Friday, 8 p.m. MT, Scotiabank Saddledome
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TV: Sportsnet West. Radio: Sportsnet 960 The Fan
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Odds: Wild -120, Flames +100
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The buzz
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There have been a lot of nights where the Calgary Flames could rightfully say they had to play their biggest game of the year over the last month.
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This time, though, it’s pretty much do-or-die.
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If the Flames lose to the Wild on Friday night at the Saddledome, it will mean the maximum points-total they can reach this season is 94.
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Noon News Roundup
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They won’t be able to catch the Wild, and the St. Louis Blues will be able to officially eliminate them from playoff contention on Saturday evening.
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So yeah, they’ve got to win this one.
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Fortunately, the Flames have had success against the Wild this season, winning both matchups between the two teams – most recently securing a 5-4 victory on January 25.
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The Wild are 4-4-2 over their last 10 games, although they’ve won their last two.
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The quote
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“We should be disappointed … It’s 3-1, and the game should be over. But right now, there’s nothing we can do about it. All we can do is make sure that we’re ready to go for our next game at home against Minnesota. That’s what we have to do.”
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— Flames head coach Ryan Huska after his team gave up a late lead against the Ducks on Wednesday night
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Three need-to-knows
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- Could Zayne Parekh play? The Flames brought in their first-round pick from the 2024 NHL Draft to join the team earlier this week, and while it’s unlikely that he’d be inserted immediately into the lineup, the No. 9-overall pick could maybe help a power-play that went 0-for-6 against the Ducks.
- All eyes will be on Morgan Frost at morning skate. The Flames centre left Wednesday’s game with an apparent arm/shoulder injury.
- The bad news for the Flames is that Kirill Kaspirov returned to the Wild lineup for their win over the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday night. Kaspirov had missed two-and-a-half months with a lower-body injury and promptly scored two goals and an assist in his return.
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Flames’ projected lineup
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Huberdeau-Kadri-Pospisil
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Coleman-Backlund-Coronato
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Farabee-Frost-Sharangovich
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Lomberg-Rooney-Klapka
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Justin Kirkland and Anthony Mantha won’t suit up again until 2025-26. Kirkland, who was announced Wednesday as the Flames’ nominee for the Masterton Trophy, and Mantha are both recovering from knee surgery. The Flames still haven’t ruled out a return for Connor Zary, who has been out since March 27 with a lower-body injury. Morgan Frost left Wednesday’s game with an arm/shoulder injury.