The Calgary Flames are down to their last tune-up before the real thing, and the final preseason stop takes them straight up Highway 2 for a 7 p.m. MT matchup with the Edmonton Oilers. Both teams are expected to ice their NHL rosters, which should make this less about easing in and more about seeing who can look sharp one last time before the regular season opens.
For Calgary, this is exhibition game No. 4.
The Flames opened with a 4-2 loss to Seattle on Sunday, followed that with a 3-1 win over Vancouver on Tuesday, then dropped a 4-3 shootout decision to Seattle on Thursday. The NHL group played against Vancouver, while the AHL group handled both games against the Kraken.
Pat Steinberg of QR Calgary projected this lineup for the Flames:
Matvei Gridin - Morgan Frost - Matt Coronato
Sam Honzek - Mikael Backlund - Joel Farabee
Connor Zary - Ryan Strome - Yegor Sharangovich
Maxim Tsyplakov - Martin Pospisil - Adam Klapka
Kevin Bahl - Simon Nemec
Yan Kuznetsov - Zach Whitecloud
Jake Middleton - Zayne Parekh
Dustin Wolf is expected to get the start and play the full game, with Kirill Zarubin backing him up. Devin Cooley has already appeared in his two preseason games, and so have Brayden Pachal, Joel Hanley and Alex Nylander.
The Flames’ practice and game combinations have stayed fairly steady through camp, and their top group looked solid against Vancouver. Edmonton, though, is a different test entirely, and this one should give head coach Ryan Huska a better read on how his group handles a heavier matchup.
The Oilers come in with a perfect preseason mark, having won all three of their games so far. Bob Stauffer projected this lineup for Edmonton:
Vasili Podkolzin - Connor McDavid - Leon Draisaitl
Isaac Howard - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Zach Hyman
Josh Samanski* - Trent Frederic - Kasperi Kapanen
Alex Formenton - Colton Dach - Mathieu Joseph
Mattias Ekholm - Evan Bouchard
Jake Walman - Connor Murphy
Ryan Shea - Shakir Mukhamadullin
Devon Levi is projected to start in goal, with Matt Tomkins as the backup. Max Jones skated on the left side of the third line in practice, but since he has already played twice, either Samanski or Owen Michaels is likely to fill that spot.
And yes, Edmonton still looks loaded. When Zach Hyman is only your third or fourth best player, that’s a problem for everyone else. Even in preseason mode, the Oilers bring plenty of bite.
In Other News...
Flames Opening Night Roster Sends An Early Message About This Team
The Flames have settled on their opening-night group for the 2026-27 season, and the first look at the roster says plenty about how Calgary is trying to start this year. The club is carrying 13 forwards and 8 defensemen, with Brennan Othmann sticking around after a strong preseason showing, a sign that the team is at least willing to reward camp performance when it matters.
There is also a clearer picture of the veterans the Flames trust to help set the tone. Joel Hanley and Brayden Pachal are on the roster, while Aydar Suniev was assigned to the American Hockey League, trimming one more young option from the mix. Jonathan Huberdeau is on injured reserve, which adds another layer to the early-season puzzle as Calgary works through its first lineup decisions without one of its most established names. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Opening Roster Puts Forward Depth In Focus Fast
The Flames have settled on their 23-man active roster for the season opener, and the first look at the lineup says plenty about how the club is approaching its forward group. Calgary is carrying two goaltenders, nine defensemen and 13 forwards, with the opening-day mix built around a roster that still has room to sort itself out as the season gets going. Salary-cap commitments and available space are also part of the picture, making the roster math as important as the personnel decisions.
Aydar Suniev and Jonathan Huberdeau were both moved off the active group, which keeps the focus squarely on forward depth and what it means for the team early in the year. Huberdeau is working his way back from hip surgery and is expected to return in seven to nine months, so his absence will linger well beyond opening night. For Calgary, the bigger question now is how the forwards handle the workload while the roster settles into place. [Read more 🡒]
Wranglers Scoreless Debut Raises An Early Concern Up Front
The Calgary Wranglers first pre-season game in team history ended the way no new club wants to start, with a 3-0 loss to the Abbotsford Canucks and an offense that never found a breakthrough. Abbotsford grabbed control early with two first-period goals, while Calgary had to lean on goaltender Arsenii Sergeev, who made several key saves to keep the score from getting worse as the game went on.
Even with the puck spending plenty of time in the Canucks end, the Wranglers could not convert their chances and left the ice looking for answers up front. The late empty-net goal only added to the frustration, but the bigger concern was the same one that lingered from the opening period: Calgary generated looks, yet never managed to turn pressure into a goal. [Read more 🡒]