Mikael Backlund is week to week for the Flames with an upper-body injury. The forward was injured in the first period of a 4-3 shootout loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday.

For the better part of the last decade, Mikael Backlund has been one of the most important players for the Calgary Flames. He’s first over the boards in virtually every game situation, and he’s routinely matched up against the top players on opposing National Hockey League teams.

Calgary Flames captain Mikael Backlund is week-to-week with an upper-body injury, the team announced Friday. The 35-year-old forward has appeared in all 64 games this season, totaling 24 points (11 goals,

Find out why Nazem Kadri, among others, will find the score sheet in a wide-open renewal of Flames vs. Avalanche, per our NHL betting picks.

Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are scheduled then offers insight and analysis to help predict who will be victorious in head-to-head matchups.

Calgary Flames forward Connor Zary will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Thursday, one day after his hit on Vancouver Canucks rookie defenseman Elias Pettersson. Pettersson leveled Nazem Kadri with an open-ice hit when Zary took up for his teammate.

Flames center Connor Zary receives suspension from Department of Players Safety for hit on Canucks rookie defenseman

Calgary forward Connor Zary has been suspended two games without pay for elbowing Vancouver defenseman Elias Pettersson during the Canucks’ 4-3 shootout victory over the Flames.