Flames’ Vladar to start vs. Oilers; Pelletier returns, Kuzmenko out with sickness

The Calgary Flames will start goalie Dan Vladar when the team takes on the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada, head coach Ryan Huska said after morning skate.

Vladar, 26, has appeared in 17 games this season for Calgary, posting a 7-7-2 record with a 3.22 goals against average and an .888 save percentage.

Huska said that Jacob Markstrom is “not 100 per cent right now,” opening the door for Vladar.

Forward Andrei Kuzmenko won’t be in the lineup due to a sickness.

Jakob Pelletier, 22, will make his return to the lineup in Kuzmenko’s place, slotting in beside Jonathan Huberdeau and Yegor Sharangovich.

Pelletier has been out since Feb. 12 after leaving the game with a left shoulder injury.

Calgary’s first-round pick in 2019, Pelletier underwent shoulder surgery before the season, and has registered one assist in just four games since returning to the lineup in early February.

Kuzmenko was acquired in an early February trade that sent Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks.

The 28-year-old had a strong start to his Flames tenure, scoring goals in his first two games with the team. In the six games since, Kuzmenko has one goal and an assist.

Calgary enters Saturday’s game with a 27-25-5 record, and sits three points behind the St. Louis Blues for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

You can watch the Battle of Alberta on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+, starting at 10 p.m. ET and 7 p.m. PT.