Here's the big matchup and five things to watch as the Flames get ready to take on the Canadiens at the Saddledome.
THE BIG MATCHUP
Flames D Mark Giordano vs. Canadiens RW Paul Byron
Well, it might be a stretch calling it “The Big Matchup,” given the obvious about Byron, the former Calgary Flames winger whom Bob Hartley nicknamed “The Waterbug.” But he’s certainly become a big factor in the Canadiens lineup since being picked up from Calgary on waivers in the fall of 2015. The 28-year-old has 10 goals and four assists in 34 games and snapped a five-game point-less skid on Tuesday in Vancouver. It’ll likely be former teammate Mark Giordano containing him.
FIVE STORYLINES FOR THE GAME
1. NO HAMONIC
There’s good news and bad news with Travis Hamonic’s tweaked groin. The good news is the Flames believed he prevented further injury to it by not playing through the pain during Wednesday’s 2-1 win over St. Louis. Instead, he left after the first period. The bad news? The 27-year-old will be out of the lineup on Friday. “We could have pushed Hammer but we would have been pushing someone into a dangerous situation,” said Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan. “And we’re not going to do that — not with the break coming. It was real good by Hammer to get off the ice; it probably saved us a couple of weeks.”
2. NEXT MEN UP
With Travis Hamonic nursing his injury, it means seventh defenceman Matt Bartkowski will get the call. And it’s been a while. Since the play of Brett Kulak has forced the hand of the coaching staff, the 29-year-old has played only one game in the last 20. “I just have to play the way they want me to play,” Bartkowski said. “I just need to play my game. It’s always difficult to not play when you’re healthy. But, you just try and stay ready as best you can. I feel good to go.”
3. STILL NO JAGR
Gulutzan had no update on RW Jaromir Jagr who missed Wednesday’s game with a groin injury. It’s the same nagging problem that has kept the 45-year-old out of 13 games this season, which has limited him to 19 contests in a Calgary Flames jersey. Jagr is officially day-to-day, putting his ascent in the NHL record books on hold — again. The next time Jagr plays, he will equal Ron Francis for third on the NHL’s all-time games-played charts with 1,731 appearances.
4. COUNTDOWN UNTIL CHRISTMAS
This is the final assignment for the Flames before the Christmas holiday break. They’ll enjoy five days between games as they square off with the San Jose Sharks on Dec. 28. Calgary is riding a two-game win streak, having beat the Vancouver Canucks 6-1 on the road Sunday and grinding out a 2-1 win over the St. Louis Blues at home Wednesday.
5. TEMPERS FLARING
A scuffle broke out during the Montreal Canadiens practice on Thursday at the Scotiabank Saddledome as Andrew Shaw and Joe Morrow traded words and shoves and had to be separated by teammates after a drill … The Canadiens are 15-15-4 and 6-3-1 in their last 10 games.
FLAMES GAME DAY LINES
Johnny Gaudreau-Sean Monahan-Micheal Ferland
Matthew Tkachuk-Mikael Backlund-Michael Frolik
Sam Bennett-Mark Jankowski-Garnet Hathaway
Troy Brouwer-Matt Stajan-Freddie Hamilton
DEFENCE PAIRINGS
Mark Giordano-Dougie Hamilton
TJ Brodie-Michael Stone
Brett Kulak-Matt Bartkowski
GOALIES
Mike Smith
David Rittich
CANADIENS GAME DAY LINES
Max Pacioretty-Jonathan Drouin-Paul Byron
Alex Galchenyuk-Phillip Danault-Andrew Shaw
Charles Hudon-Tomas Plekanec-Brendan Gallagher
Nicolas Deslauriers-Byron Froese-Daniel Carr
DEFENCE PAIRINGS
Karl Alzner-Jeff Petry
Jordie Benn-David Schlemko
Joe Morrow-Jakub Jerabek
GOALIES
Carey Price
Antti Niemi
SPECIAL TEAMS (prior to Thursday)
POWER PLAY
FLAMES: 17.1% (22nd)
CANADIENS: 18.5% (18th)
PENALTY KILL
FLAMES: 77.4% (26th)
CANADIENS: 77.7% (25th)
SICK BAY
FLAMES
LW Kris Versteeg (hip), RW Jaromir Jagr (groin), D Travis Hamonic (groin)
CANADIENS
D Shea Weber (foot), RW Ales Hemsky (upper body), G Al Montoya (concussion), RW Artturi Lehkonen (lower body)
Calgary Flames vs. Montreal Canadiens
7 p.m. MT, Scotiabank Saddledome, TV: TSN2, Radio: Sportsnet 960 The Fan
— Kristen Odland