The Flames arrive in Seattle with some momentum and a few fresh faces making noise.
After Monday night’s 2-1 win over the Sharks in San Jose, Calgary touched down at Boeing Field early Tuesday morning and got a rare full practice day at Climate Pledge Arena before closing out this three-game road trip. It’s been a grind already: five games in eight days, spread across five different cities. But the latest stop came with a boost from another sharp Dustin Wolf outing, as he stopped 26 of 27 shots and got enough support from Adam Klapka, Jonathan Castagna and William Stromgren to get the job done.
Castagna, the Cornell product acquired in a package from the Utah Mammoth last March, had the first multi-point game of his NHL career with two assists. He’s only 12 games into his NHL run, but he sounded every bit like a player who understands exactly what his role is.
“It’s a really good feeling when stuff starts going in the back of the net,” Castagna commented during an engaging post-practice conversation at Climate Pledge Arena Tuesday. “Our line, I felt like had been getting so many chances and just not quite getting them in every time.
“It felt very rewarding, for sure, but I think it’s important now just to move past that, ‘cause we play (Wednesday) night, and try to bring that same effort.”
That line has become a useful spark for Calgary. With Klapka, Castagna has built chemistry, and the group - whether it’s been Brennan Othmann, Maxim Tsyplakov or, most recently, Stromgren alongside them - has helped set a tone in recent games. Castagna’s night in San Jose was efficient and impactful: two assists, two hits and four faceoff wins in less than 10 minutes.
“We have a very simple job, our line. It’s to get out there and bring energy for the guys and try to make a difference, and be reliable,” Castagna said. “In terms of moving forward, I don’t think it matters how many minutes we play, as long as we can keep playing that way and making a difference out there, I think that’s when we’ll be successful.”
Stromgren’s night was memorable too. In his 2026-27 debut, the Ontario product scored the first NHL goal of his career by batting a Klapka centring pass out of mid-air from just outside the blue paint.
The goal stood as the winner at SAP Center. Castagna picked up an assist on the play, though he wasn’t on the ice when the puck crossed the line.
“It was awesome,” he smiled. “Actually, I went and line-changed. I was on the bench and then everyone started cheering and I started cheering too.
“I didn’t realize it was Strommer until he started coming down the line.”
That kind of youthful pop has been part of Calgary’s recent lift, with Zayne Parekh, Matvei Gridin, Castagna and Stromgren all adding energy in their own way. The result is a team that looks loose and connected as it gets set for its fourth and final meeting with Seattle this season, all of them packed into the first 16 dates of the 84-game schedule. From Mikael Backlund to Klapka to Castagna, the Flames have plenty of hands on the wheel.
Seattle, meanwhile, comes in with a new look of its own. For the second straight game, Calgary will face a team unveiling its Hometown Remix jersey, with the Kraken debuting their new “Anchor” silks on Wednesday night.
The Kraken also have a new forward in the mix. Matthew Wood, acquired from the Nashville Predators over the weekend in a one-for-one swap with Shane Wright, is expected to make his Seattle debut. The Kraken haven’t played since Friday’s 6-2 loss to Calgary at Scotiabank Saddledome, and Wood is projected to skate on the right side with Chandler Stephenson and Freddy Gaudreau.
“Super-grateful to be here, obviously a great organization,” Wood, who was born in Lethbridge but raised just across the border from Seattle in Nanaimo, B.C., told reporters Tuesday. “It’s a bonus to be close to home and maybe see family a bit more.
“I’m loving it, super-excited to get to work with everyone. I’m really fortunate.”
Wood had 17 goals last season with Nashville in his first full professional campaign, and he said the move gives him a chance to keep rounding out his game. He also played two seasons at the University of Connecticut with Calgary netminder Arsenii Sergeev.
“I’m a pretty offensive player, I like to produce, score goals,” he said. I have enjoyed working on the (defensive) side of my game the last couple of years.
“I love to improve all parts of my game, and I think this is a great place to do that.”
He’s still getting acquainted with much of the roster, though he does know Berkly Catton, whom he roomed with while representing Canada at the 2023 U18 World Championship. And there won’t be much time to settle in: after Wednesday’s game and Saturday’s home date with the Rangers, Seattle heads overseas to Finland for a two-game set with the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes.
The matchup itself has already produced plenty of offense this season. Tonight is the fourth and final meeting between Calgary and Seattle, and the winning side has scored six goals in each of the first three games.
Seattle opened with matching 6-1 wins on Oct. 1 and 4, then Calgary answered with a 6-2 victory at the Dome last Friday. Matt Coronato led that one with a goal and three assists, Joel Farabee added a goal and two helpers, and Morgan Frost, Matvei Gridin, Ryan Strome and Aydar Suniev also scored.
Wolf stopped 20 of 22 shots in that game.
A couple of quick notes from the season series: Ryan Strome has two goals in three games against Seattle this season, Coronato’s eight career points versus the Kraken are his second-most against any NHL opponent, and Frost is one point shy of 200 for his NHL career.
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