BACKLUND SKATES, SMITH NEARS RETURN

There's good news for Flames fans on a couple of fronts.
Injured forward Mikael Backlund skated in Friday morning's practice and travelled with the team when they jetted off for a three-game road swing that begins in Minnesota tomorrow morning against the Wild.
Backlund skated in practice as a defenceman - coach Bill Peters joked the centre "really embraced it," even wearing a black D jersey.
As he won't be available for the Wild tilt, the team wanted to skate their four lines and needing eight defenceman for drills, slotted Backlund in there.
"He's had a lot of testing over the last couple of days and everything has been real positive," said Peters.

Meanwhile in net, the team recalled Jon Gillies Friday morning and he will backup starter David Rittich against Minny, said Peters.
Mike Smith - who left Wednesday's 6-5 OT win over the Flyers with an ailment - will also travel with the team.
"Smitty should be ready on this trip," said Peters. "Nothing major. Just a little bit of maintenance and he should be good to go.
"I expect him to play on this trip, for sure. I'd be shocked if he didn't."
Here are the line combinations and D pairings from Friday morning's practice:
FORWARDS
Johnny Gaudreau - Sean Monahan - Elias Lindholm
Matthew Tkachuk - Derek Ryan - Sam Bennett
Andrew Mangiapane - Mark Jankowski - James Neal
Austin Czarnik - Alan Quine - Garnet Hathaway
DEFENCE
Mark Giordano - TJ Brodie
Noah Hanifin - Travis Hamonic
Oliver Kylington - Rasmus Andersson
GOALTENDER
David Rittich