Vancouver Canucks Gameday Preview #72: A Tank Battle Against The Calgary Flames

The Vancouver Canucks (21-42-8) kick off a four-game road trip on Saturday against the Calgary Flames (30-34-8). Both these teams are at the bottom of the standings and have won a combined eight of their past 20 games. Vancouver enters the game looking to snap a four-game losing streak, while Calgary is coming off an overtime loss on Thursday.

Saturday is setting up to be an interesting game from a draft lottery perspective. While the Canucks have all but secured 32nd place, the Flames have a chance to finish the season with the second-best odds at first overall in the 2026 NHL Draft. Ultimately, Saturday could be called a tank battle as both teams have struggled mightily this season.

As for Vancouver, they cannot have a repeat of Thursday night. Even if the Canucks lose, they need to show that they can play a full 60 while improving areas like shot generation and the penalty kill. At this stage of the season, the process is more important than results, as Vancouver will remain at the bottom of the standings the rest of the year.

Players To Watch Tom Willander: Tom Willander is one of the younger players getting more opportunities as the season comes to a close. He played over 21 minutes on Thursday and showed late in the game that he isn't afraid to get involved in a scrum. Even though he is only 21, Willander looks like he is developing into a leader for the Canucks.