CANUCKS (14-17-3) at FLAMES (17-16-2)
9 p.m. ET; SNW, SNP, NHL.TV
Canucks team scope
Vancouver Canucks right wing Jannik Hansen is not expected to play after sustaining a lower-body injury in the second period of a 4-1 loss against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. "It's never fun, people getting injured, especially Jannik," goaltender Jacob Markstrom said. "He just got back in … from an injury, and he got hurt again. We'll see. They're going to check it out today. Hopefully it's not too bad." Forward Anton Rodin, who was recalled from a conditioning stint from Utica of the American Hockey League on Thursday, could make his NHL debut in Hansen's absence. Rodin, drafted by the Canucks in 2009, sustained a season-ending knee injury last January while playing for Brynas in the Swedish Hockey League, and had a setback in Canucks training camp. "He's super excited," Markstrom said. "He's a really good hockey player. He's been struggling with a really bad injury he had. I think it was good for him to go down for a week-and-a-half in Utica and play some games and really he feels like the knee is holding up. I just know he's very excited. I'm excited for him, too." Markstrom, who is 7-7-2 with a 2.63 goals against average and .908 save percentage, is expected to start.
Flames team scope
Goaltender Brian Elliott will start for the Calgary Flames. Elliott is making his fourth start in the past 20 games. Chad Johnson has started 16 of the past 19. "You've got a veteran guy who's working on his game when he hasn't been playing and you can see his level in the drills and the shots is coming up," coach Glen Gulutzan said. "He's had some terrific practices here of late. He won his last start and made some big saves early. We need both guys here to get us to where we want to go." Elliott is 4-9-1 with a 3.22 goals-against average and a save percentage of .889 in 15 games this season. "I think we are just happy now we have good, solid goalies," forward Michael Frolik said. "Anyone of those two guys can be a No. 1. It's a pretty good thing." The Flames are 1-3-0 after a six-game winning streak; Elliott has the win, making 25 saves in a 4-2 win at the Arizona Coyotes on Monday. "We just need to raise our battle level," Frolik said. "We get a chance to finish off strong before the Christmas break and that's what we're looking for tonight, have a strong game and hopefully we'll come out with the win and enjoy the break."
Canucks projected lineup
Daniel Sedin -- Henrik Sedin -- Loui Eriksson
Markus Granlund -- Brandon Sutter -- Anton Rodin
Sven Baertschi -- Bo Horvat -- Alexandre Burrows
Brendan Gaunce -- Michael Chaput -- Jack Skille
Ben Hutton -- Christopher Tanev
Jacob Markstrom
Scratched: Andrey Pedan, Jayson Megna
Injured: Erik Gudbranson (wrist surgery), Alexander Edler (fractured finger), Derek Dorsett (neck surgery), Philip Larsen (concussion), Jannik Hansen (lower body)
Flames projected lineup
Kris Versteeg -- Sean Monahan -- Troy Brouwer
Johnny Gaudreau -- Sam Bennett -- Alex Chiasson
Matthew Tkachuk -- Mikael Backlund -- Michael Frolik
Micheal Ferland -- Matt Stajan -- Garnet Hathaway
Mark Giordano -- Dougie Hamilton
Tyler Wotherspoon -- Deryk Engelland
Brian Elliott
Chad Johnson
Scratched: Freddie Hamilton, Lance Bouma, Jyrki Jokipakka
Injured: Ladislav Smid (neck)
Status report
The Canucks and Flames each held an optional morning skate. Markstrom, Pedan and Megna were the only Vancouver skaters. … Wotherspoon will make his season debut for the Flames in place of Jokipakka.
Who's hot
Baertschi, who was drafted by the Flames in 2011, has three goals and six points in the past five games for Vancouver. … Monahan has five goals and 12 points in his past 11 games. Gaudreau has three goals and 12 points in his past nine games.
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