CALGARY, AB - It has been over four years since Mark Jankowski heard his named called 21^st overall at the 2012 NHL Draft and he has waited patiently for this moment ever since.

Tonight, he makes his Scotiabank Saddledome debut when the Flames host the Vancouver Canucks (7:00 PM MT; SN1, SN960).

"Ever since I was drafted, I wanted to play here at the 'Dome," he said after this morning's practice. "I've heard great things about the fans and everything so I'm really excited to get in tonight and hopefully perform and help the team get a win."

CALGARY, AB -- A bug derailed Tyler Parsons' first attempt. It won't get the better of him in his second.

Illness kept the goaltender from suiting up with the Calgary Flames earlier in the week, but Parsons will get another go against the Vancouver Canucks on Friday (7:00 PM MT; SN1, SN960).

"It happens," said Parsons, who is expected to come on for starter Brian Elliott in a planned third-period relief appearance. 

"There's nothing you can do about it. Things happened. Everything happens for a reason.

"I'm getting a game tonight. I'm happy about that."

FLAMES VS. CANUCKS - 7:00 PM MT - SPORTSNET ONE, SPORTSNET 960 THE FAN

The Calgary Flames pre-season continues tonight when the Vancouver Canucks make a stop at the Scotiabank Saddledome at 7:00 PM MT. Sportsnet One will carry the television broadcast while Sportsnet 960 The FAN will carry the radio broadcast.

Here is the Flames projected lineup for this evening's contest:

CANUCKS (1-0-1) @ FLAMES (1-2-0) 

TV: 7:00 PM MT; SN1, Sportsnet 960 The FAN 

Season series: The Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames are meeting for the first time this preseason. After losing both ends of a split-squad double-header against the Edmonton Oilers, the Flames beat the Winnipeg Jets 3-0 on Tuesday. The Canucks dispatched of the Oilers 5-3 on Wednesday after losing 3-2 in overtime a day prior to the San Jose Sharks. 

Canucks team scope: Vancouver's roster sits at 41 players after assigning goaltender Michael Garteig to Utica of the American Hockey League. Of those that remain with the Canucks, the likes of forwards Sven Baertschi, Markus Granlund, Emerson Etem and Alexandre Burrows, and defencemen Erik Gudbranson and Christopher Tanev are expected to see action in Calgary. Goaltender Thatcher Demko, who saw the Flames at the Young Stars Classic in Penticton, could also see some action against the Flames.

Flames team scope: Calgary has slimmed from three teams down to two after trimming their camp roster by 11 on Wednesday. Forwards Mikkell Aagard, Mike Angelidis, Matt Bailey, Jamie Devane, Brett Pollock, defencemen Stepan Falkovsky and Keegan Kanzig, and goaltender Mason McDonald were all assigned to Stockton of the AHL. Forwards Dillon Dube (Kelowna, WHL), Eetu Tuulola (Everett, WHL) and defenceman Riley Bruce (North Bay, OHL) were all returned to junior. Coach Glen Gulutzan didn't reveal who would be playing against the Canucks, but the group skating Thursday that includes the forward trio of Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett and Troy Brouwer are likely against Vancouver.  

CALGARY, AB -- The last, the only, worthwhile sample-size Glen Gulutzan has of Micheal Ferland can be traced back 16 months.

Gulutzan was then perched on the opposition bench, staring in equal parts admiration and disbelief as munitions expert Ferland gleefully set about blowing up cranky Kevin Bieksa on virtually every shift; drove all the Vancouver players either to distraction or through the woodwork while bundling the Canucks straight into the off-season.

"I thought in that series he played with just a ton of heart,'' says Gulutzan, a full season and one allegiance switch later. "I can tell you, the first game now that I've coached him, in Winnipeg (Tuesday) - guys knew he was out there.

"He was moving around and he was finishing checks.

"You talk about intimidation in this league. A lot of the fighting has gone out. We all know that. But … intimidation is becoming that guy who can fight but moreso can hit, get in on the forecheck and make people pay.

"That's new intimidation.

"And Ferly has that quality.

"I noticed it in the Winnipeg game and I noticed it in that series a year or so back."

CALGARY, AB -- Mikael Backlund would've preferred that his return to the ice featured a different city.

And another team. 

But, back with the Calgary Flames, the 27-year-old was pleased with the strides taken as he recovers from a concussion. 

"It felt good," Backlund said. "It was fun to be back out there with the boys. Everything felt good.

"We'll just take it day-by-day, see how I react to every step I take."

CALGARY, AB -- Centre Sean Monahan has yet to join teammates in practice this pre-season because of a back strain, but Calgary Flames coach Glen Gulutzan isn't hitting the panic button just yet.

"It's still optimistic," Gulutzan said. "At this juncture with those types of things you'd rather be cautious rather than rush it, because then they can nag. That's the last thing we want. We want it to disappear. And that's what our mindset is … to make it go away. He's put in a lot of work. He's in good shape. It's not going to take him long. He's been involved with every meeting. He'll get up to speed quick."

Monahan sustained the injury training this off-season.

CALGARY, AB -- The West Coast ties haven't broken entirely. They've only been loosened.

"Vancouver,'' Glen Gulutzan is saying, "will always be special to me. I really enjoyed my time there. I still have a great caring for and understanding of the people in that organization.

"Playing the Canucks? Well, Willie (Desjardins) and I would probably say the same thing: If you've ever competed against, say, a good buddy or your brother, it's that sort of situation.

"Cards. Hoops. Ping-pong.

"Whatever.

"Man, when you start playing against someone close to you it always seems you want to beat him more than the guy you don't know, right?

"So, yeah, I'm really going to want to beat the Vancouver Canucks.

"I'm sure Willie and everyone over on that side would say the same thing about beating us."

CALGARY, AB -- The Calgary Flames announced today that they have assigned eight players to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Stockton Heat: Mikkel Aagaard (C), Mike Angelidis (C), Matt Bailey (C), Jamie Devane (LW), Stepan Falkovsky (D), Keegan Kanzig (D), Mason McDonald (G), and Brett Pollock (RW). The Flames also announced that they have assigned the following three players to their respective junior clubs: Riley Bruce (North Bay/OHL), Dillon Dube (Kelowna/WHL), and Eetu Tuulola (Everett/WHL).

Calgary has 49 players remaining at training camp (5x goalies, 17x defencemen, 27x forwards).

CALGARY, AB -- Funny, suggested Matt Stajan, how things always seem to circle back.

A fresh-faced Mark Jankowski can remember a time when his family would pile in the car and head down to the Air Canada Centre to watch the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Among those the budding minor hockey star would key in on?

Stajan.

The one helping Jankowski through his first training camp experience with the Calgary Flames.