The Vancouver Canucks face the Calgary Flames tonight in the second-to-last preseason game for both teams.

While the Canucks have not formally released their lineup for tonight’s contest at the Scotiabank Saddledome, it’s likely the team will run with a veteran-laden lineup since many of its top players have appeared in just one exhibition outing so far this season. However, the team still has pressing decisions to make on a number of hopefuls, so tonight’s game will also be used as a key evaluation tool for some players on the bubble.

Kevin Lankinen is expected to get the start and go the distance. Lankinen played 40 minutes last Friday in a 4-2 win against Seattle.

Based on practice yesterday, Arshdeep Bains could get a prime opportunity in an offensive role. He skated on a line with Filip Chytil and Conor Garland. Due to a nagging injury picked up at training camp, Garland has yet to appear in preseason action.

Elias Pettersson is still looking to find the scoresheet in the exhibition season. He produced a pair of shots and won 10 of 14 faceoffs in 16:32 of ice time in the home ice win over the Seattle Kraken. He was also part of a power play that generated six shots on net and produced the game-winning goal. Pettersson will likely be flanked by fellow veterans Jake DeBrusk and Brock Boeser.

It’s lower in the lineup that some of the most interesting battles remain.

Linus Karlsson has had a quiet preseason so far, but still likely has the inside track on a fourth line role. Aaty Räty scored on Sunday in Edmonton and needs to build on that if he’s going to cement his spot in the opening night lineup. Jonathan Lekkerimäki has shown flashes in each of the last two games, including a strong one-time goal on Sunday. Rookie Braeden Cootes is likely to get a breather tonight and sit out after scoring in back-to-back games.

On defence, Quinn Hughes looked like he was in mid-season form in his lone preseason sighting last Friday. If the captain plays tonight, it will be alongside fellow veteran Filip Hronek, who has had a strong camp and preseason. Tyler Myers is questionable after missing three straight days of practice late last week and rotating through drills at practice yesterday. It will be interesting to see how the bottom pair shakes out tonight. Derek Forbort, P-O Joseph, Elias Pettersson, Victor Mancini and Tom Willander are all still in camp and vying to make the grade with the team set to get down to its 23-man roster next Monday.

The Flames appear to be icing a solid lineup for their home fans. However, that won’t include their star netminder, Dustin Wolf.

Ivan Prosvetov looks to get the nod in goal to start the hockey game, with a change expected at some point in the second period.

Based on their practice yesterday, the Flames look to be dressing regulars Nazem Kadri, Jonathan Huberdeau, Mikael Backlund, Matthew Coronato, Yegor Sharangovich, Rasmus Andersson, Mackenzie Weegar and top defensive prospect Zayne Parekh.

Tonight’s game starts at 6 PM Pacific time and can be seen on Sportsnet Pacific.

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