Calgary is moving the opposite way, just more slowly. The Flames are 3-6-0, but they've won 2 straight on home ice, and both wins were the grinding kind: 3-2 over Carolina, then 2-1 over Minnesota on Thursday. Against the Wild, Joel Farabee's power-play goal at 14:06 of the 1st gave Calgary its 2-goal cushion, and the Flames gave up only a single 3rd-period goal from there. That's the formula for this group right now. Score early, play tight, don't give anything away.
Mikael Backlund is the name to watch on Calgary's side. The 37-year-old took a hit along the boards from William Carrier late in the Carolina win and left gingerly, then sat out Thursday against the Wild. Afterward he said he "won't be out long if at all," and Saturday against Detroit is his next chance to get back in. Calgary is still without Jonathan Huberdeau (hip) and Samuel Honzek, both on injured reserve, so getting a veteran center back in the middle would help.
Both teams played Thursday, so neither gets an edge on rest heading into the 8:00 PM MT puck drop. This one comes down to finishing. Calgary has scored 2 goals or fewer in 3 of its last 5, and Detroit just showed it can score in bunches when it gets going early. If the Flames keep things tight and low-scoring the way they did against Minnesota and Carolina, they'll like their chances. If Detroit's top six puts pressure on early again, Calgary's thin forward group will have trouble keeping up.