Music: {allcanada} FLAMES (33-24-4) at ISLANDERS (40-20-2)

Thursday, February 26, 2015

{allcanada} FLAMES (33-24-4) at ISLANDERS (40-20-2)

ESPN Fantasy Baseball / Yahoo Fantasy Baseball

Friday, February 27, 2015

7:00 PM ET

FLAMES (33-24-4) at ISLANDERS (40-20-2)

TV: SNW, MSG+ 2

Season series: John Tavares scored both goals for the New York Islanders in their earlier win this season. Johnny Gaudreau had the only goal for the Calgary Flames.

Flames team scope: The status of defenseman Mark Giordano was uncertain after he sustained an undisclosed injury in the final minute of a 3-1 win against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday. Coach Bob Hartley said Giordano was still under evaluation Thursday and will be a game-time decision. Giordano has established himself as a potential Norris Trophy candidate this season with 11 goals, 48 points and a plus-13 rating. "Giordano is a machine and he never changes … his preparation and approach to the game is second to none," forward Joe Colborne said, according to Sportsnet Calgary. Goalie Karri Ramo has the hot hand, making 54 saves on 56 shots (.964 save percentage) in starting on back-to-back days against the New York Rangers (1-0 loss Tuesday) and Devils. Ramo hasn't faced the Islanders since Feb. 3, 2009, when he lost 3-1 as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Islanders team scope: Center Frans Nielsen took a maintenance day Thursday. "He battled through the last game there," coach Jack Capuano told the Islanders website. "Fortunately we gave him a little bit of time at the end of the game to rest up." Nielsen skated four shifts in the third period of the Islanders' 5-1 win Tuesday against the Arizona Coyotes, none in the final 10 minutes. Brock Nelson and Kael Mouillierat, who had his first NHL goal and assist in the victory, each moved up a line at practice. Forward Anders Lee has 20 goals, which entering Thursday was tied for second among rookies with Mike Hoffman of the Ottawa Senators, one behind League leader Filip Forsberg of the Nashville Predators.