Vancouver's start has been chaos in both directions. The Canucks won 6-5 in Edmonton, then lost 9-7 at home in the rematch, when the Oilers scored 8 goals in the first 2 periods behind 5 points from Connor McDavid and 4 apiece from Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard before Vancouver scored 4 in the third. Thirteen goals in 2 games says the offense can push. Fourteen against says the structure in front of the net isn't there yet.
The schedule is even. Both teams played on the 1st, both get a day off, and Calgary has only the short trip over the Rockies. Neither club has a game in between, so the teams that took the ice Thursday are the teams you'll see at 7:00 PM PT on Saturday, October 3.
The real question is what Vancouver's defense looks like against a lineup that isn't Edmonton's. Facing McDavid and Draisaitl back to back would make most blue lines look bad, and Calgary's attack is far less dangerous, especially without Huberdeau. If the Canucks can't tighten up against the Flames either, the 14 goals against are a real warning and not just a product of the opponent.
For Calgary the bar is simple: look like a team that belonged on the ice. Zach Whitecloud's 'embarrassing' was blunt, and the response will show early: a better first period in front of Wolf and more than 1 goal from a lineup missing a key scoring piece. It's the 2nd game of an 82-game season, but nobody wants to open 0-2 and spend the next week answering for it.