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It may be a prospects tournament, but the Calgary Flames crew for Wednesday night’s tilt against the Edmonton Oilers hopefull will have plenty of experience.

Up front, Greg Nemisz, Carter Bancks, Mitch Wahl, Lance Bouma and Logan MacMillan will be in the lineup. On defence, John Negrin and T.J. Brodi will skate for the third game in as many tilts at this event.

Abbotsford Heat head coach Troy Ward, who’s running the Flames youngsters, said he wants to see those players – most are second-year pros – play with more emotion than they did previously. Most of those players played Sunday’s opener, a 6-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks prospects, but not Monday night against the Vancouver Canucks.

“I didn’t like the fact that they assumed they were going to go where they left off,” he said. “They didn’t prepare well enough mentally. For me, it wasn’t a physical thing on Sunday. We obviously got close to 40 shots and pretty much dominated the first two periods. But I didn’t think we were mentally engaged.”

Goalie Joni Ortio will see the nets for the third game, as will junior-aged players Patrick Holland, Max Reinhart and Sven Baertschi — who were quite good in the first two games.

The Oilers will not have 2011 first-overall draft choice Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in the lineup.

Penticton — One night after surrendering six goals on 23 shots in a forgettable opener at the Young Stars Tournament, Joni Ortio will be between the pipes for the Flames this evening against the Vancouver Canucks.
“Sometimes the best thing you can do as a coach and an organization is put him back in the fire. And he wants to respond,” said Abbotsford Heat head coach Troy Ward, who’s running the bench for the Flames hopefuls. “The good news is he’s excited about the challenge again.
“Joni’s a guy in the organization that needs get himself ready for training camp and needs to get himself ready for Abbotsford. He’s gonna have to carry the weight.”

Calgary product and WHL Hitmen defenceman Peter Kosterman will also suit up.

“Even watching the game yesterday and seeing the guys go out in jerseys was like ‘Holy smokes.’ To be able to play in the game jerseys and everything, it’s really exciting,” he said.

Not expected to play are: Carter Bancks, Greg Nemisz, Roman Horak, Mitch Wahl, Lance Bouma, Ryan Howse, Joey Leach and Dallas Ehrhardt.

Here are the projected lines to start

Michael Ferland – Dustin Sylvester – Bryan Cameron

Patrick Holland – Max Reinhart – Sven Baertschi

Logan MacMillan – Gaelan Patterson – BlakeGal

CJ Severyn – Justin Dowling – Turner Elson

Peter Kosterman – Chris Breen

John Negrin – James Martin

Reid Jackson – TJ Brodie

NASHVILLE — The Canucks say they only need to replace one forward, Mikael Samuelsson, even though Chris Higgins left early during the morning skate.

Higgins blocked a shot in Saturday’s game, was limping noticeably while walking, but figured he’ll play Monday night’s game.

Expect to see Jeff Tambellini in the lineup for the first tim

The defence pairing were moved around, too.

Sami Salo was paired with Alex Edler and Christian Ehrhoff was skating with Aaron Rome.

NASHVILLE — The Predators will receive a boost for their do-or-die Game 6 Monday night against the Vancouver Canucks.

Centre Jerred Smithson, who missed last game due to an injury suffered in Game 4, was part of the morning skate and said, “I feel good.”

“Game-time decision. We’ll have to see what the coach says,” he added.

Smithson said the injury which caused him to leave in the first period of Thursday’s game had nothing to do with the elbow he took in the mouth from Ryan Kesler. Of course, you have to ask what the injury was, then.

“Nunya,” he said with a smile.

That would be as in “Nunya business.”

As for the Canucks, it’s expected Victor Oreskovich will draw into the lineup for the injured Mikael Samuelsson, although Jeff Tambellini is another option.

NASHVILLE — It wasn’t bombastic. It wasn’t a challenge. It wasn’t disrespectful.

But the words of Predators head coach Barry Trotz sure made ears perk up.

Asked whether Tuesday night’s Game 3 will determine the tone of the series, Trotz said: “I think this series changes tonight. It was a feeling out process in Vancouer and I think this series changes. It’s on right now. I told our guys, it’s gonna be more of what the series is going to be.
“Each game is a different storyline, but it’s on right now.”

Trotz’s logic makes sense.

In the opener, the Predators were not very good, and lost 1-0. In Game 2, the  Canucks weren’t at their best through regulation time and eventually fell 2-1 in overtime.

“I think both teams realize we’re both engaged in a series now and the team that can get a little bit better and adjust as the series goes on, will probably end up winning,” Trotz said.

As for news from the morning skate, it’s doubtful the Predators will make any changes.

The Canucks had an optional skate, so it’s hard to tell what the lineup will look like tonight, but it would seem Cody Hodgson will play instead of Victor Oreskovich, based on Monday’s practice. More notable moves would see Alex Burrows moved to a line with Daniel and Henrik Sedin, and the struggling Mikael Samuelsson moved down to the fourth line.