Flames chase first win as Avalanche visit on back-to-back

CALGARY — The Calgary Flames are still chasing their first win of 2026-27 when the Colorado Avalanche visit Scotiabank Saddledome on Thursday for a 7 p.m. MT puck drop.

Calgary (0-3-0) has been outscored 16-3 through three games: 6-1 to Seattle on opening night, 4-1 in Vancouver, and 6-1 in Seattle on Sunday. Dustin Wolf (0-2, 6.01 goals-against average) has started twice and Devin Cooley (0-1, 3.01) once. Joel Farabee leads the team with two points.

The roster got younger on Wednesday. After Connor Zary, 25, and Brayden Pachal, 27, cleared waivers and were assigned to the AHL's Calgary Wranglers, the Flames recalled forwards Jonathan Castagna, 21, and Aydar Suniev, 21. It's the first NHL call-up for Castagna, who has two goals in two AHL games; Suniev, in his second stint, has one assist in two games.

Jonathan Huberdeau remains sidelined following hip surgery, with no timeline for his return.

Colorado (2-1-0) plays the second half of a back-to-back after Wednesday's 3-2 loss in Winnipeg. The Avalanche have scored 16 goals in three games, led by Nathan MacKinnon with five points (2+3). Mackenzie Blackwood has started all three games in goal. Zachary L'Heureux returned from injury to make his Avalanche debut Wednesday, while Logan O'Connor (lower body) is day-to-day and could play Thursday.

Flames fans can get an early look at what Kirill Zarubin hopes to become: the Wranglers goaltender told Provectus Media after his first AHL win Saturday against Abbotsford that he models his game after Mackenzie Blackwood, who was in Colorado's net for Wednesday's loss in Winnipeg.

The math is the story: 5.33 — the goals per game Calgary allows, and the goals per game Colorado scores. The Flames score just one per game. That injection of young talent gets thrown straight into the fire against some of the league's best, including Nathan MacKinnon and Calgary's own Cale Makar, who led Colorado with 25:16 of ice time in Winnipeg. Coming off a loss, the Avalanche have all the makings of a blowout — but the Flames are in desperation mode, so we'll see who comes out on top.

This preview is brought to you in part by Animas Painting — interior and exterior painting in Calgary. Reach Rafael at 403-604-5529.