(SportsNetwork.com) - The Calgary Flames return from a four-day break to continue their six-game homestand on Wednesday as they take on a Detroit Red Wings club that is in action for a second night in a row.
The Flames have been idle since having a four-game winning streak snapped with a 2-1 loss to the New York Islanders on Friday. Rookie Johnny Gaudreau had the only goal for the Flames and Jonas Hiller allowed both goals on 24 shots faced.
Gaudreau scored with 3:25 to play, his 13th goal and 31st point of the season. Both totals rank second among all NHL rookies this season.
"On our part I felt that our passing was not usually what it is," said Calgary head coach Bob Hartley. "Then in the second we got better, in the third period we got better, but our execution was not good enough."
The Flames wrap their homestand on Friday versus Florida and Karri Ramo will get his first start in net tonight since Dec. 16.
Ramo has started just once prior against the Red Wings, a 3-2 overtime loss on Dec. 19, 2013. He allowed three goals on 38 shots.
Forward Mikael Backlund is nearing a return from an abdominal injury as he took part in practice on Tuesday for the Flames. He hasn't played since Oct. 28 but is possible for this game.
The 25-year-old had 18 goals and 39 points in 76 games a season ago and had logged four points through 11 games in 2014-15.
The Red Wings wrap their three-game tour through Western Canada tonight before returning east to face Washington on Saturday to begin the second leg of a six-game swing.
Detroit lost in Vancouver last Saturday, but rebounded last night with a 4-2 win over Edmonton thanks to some help from Oilers forward Benoit Pouliot.
Not long after the Oilers tied the game, Pouliot took a spearing penalty with 2:29 on the clock and Pavel Datsyuk was credited with the go-ahead goal when his pass attempt hit off Edmonton's Matt Hendricks and in with 34 seconds to go.
Luke Glendening scored into an empty-net with three seconds on the clock, while Jimmy Howard made 21 saves in Detroit's fourth victory in six games. Justin Abdelkader matched a career high with his 10th goal of the season and Kyle Quincey also scored.
"We were getting a lot of chances out there," Quincey said. "We're happy to come out of here with two points."
Backup Petr Mrazek expects to start tonight and has never before faced the Flames. He is 4-2-1 on the season for Detroit with a 2.35 goals against average and .917 save percentage in seven games (6 starts).
The Red Wings won both of their meetings with the Flames last season.
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