The Calgary Flames are heading home to the Saddledome tonight with plenty to prove as they host the Utah Mammoth in what promises to be a competitive matchup between two teams headed in opposite directions.
The puck drops at 7 p.m. MT on Sportsnet's national broadcast and Sportsnet 960 The Fan. This Game 80 marks the start of Calgary's final three-game homestand of the 2025-26 season—a critical stretch for a squad looking to finish strong despite missing the playoffs.
The Stakes
The Flames (32-38-9, 73 points) have already been eliminated from playoff contention, while Utah (42-31-6, 90 points) locked up a berth and will carry that confidence into Calgary. The Mammoth are coming off a 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes at home Saturday, while the Flames fell 4-1 to the Seattle Kraken on the road in their own Saturday outing.
Despite the playoff implications being settled, expect both teams to bring intensity. Utah won't want momentum to slip away heading into the postseason, and Calgary will be fighting for dignity and lessons learned as the organization prepares for next season.
Flames Roster Notes
Calgary is running on fumes after Saturday's road game. There's no morning skate scheduled, so lineups remain somewhat fluid heading into warm-up. Dustin Wolf is expected to start in goal, with Devin Cooley as backup.
The Flames are missing Sam Honzek, Jake Bean, Jonathan Huberdeau, Joel Hanley, and Kevin Bahl. One concern to monitor: defenceman Yan Kuznetsov left Saturday's game late in the third period and his status for tonight remains uncertain.
Utah's Lineup
The Mammoth are expected to counter with Vitek Vanecek in net. Utah's roster features several offensive weapons, including Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz, and Lawson Crouse up front. The visitors will be without Barrett Hayton, Jack McBain, and John Marino.
Expect a video tribute during the first TV timeout for MacKenzie Weegar, the Utah defenceman who spent several seasons in Calgary before heading south.
Season Series
Tonight's matchup is the third and final meeting between these clubs this season. The teams have split the first two games, with the home team winning each contest. That trend could work in Calgary's favour at the Saddledome, though Utah's playoff experience and higher seed suggest they'll be the team to beat.
This article is based on reporting from FlamesNation. For more detailed analysis and Flames coverage, visit FlamesNation.ca.