If this remains the game plan, the likes of forward Dillon Dube and defenceman Juuso Valimaki will be in the lineup in Edmonton. The pair performed admirably in San Jose on Thursday and have strung together quite the body of work throughout the pre-season.
Dube, a second-round pick in 2016, leads the Flames with four goals and six points in six games. Valimaki, Calgary's first-round selection in 2017, has two goals and four points in six skates.
In net, the decision will essentially be up to veteran Mike Smith and how he is feeling about his game ahead of the regular season. He has suited up for three exhibition match-ups this month, going 1-1-1 in that stretch.
"A lot of it is going to hinge on if Smitty feels like he needs some work," Peters explained. "If he needs a little bit more work, then he's going to start."
If Smith does not play, the tandem of Jon Gillies and David Rittich could split time in the blue paint. Gillies has dressed for three games in the preseason, going 2-0-1, while Rittich has a 1-1-0 record.
Calgary has gone 4-2-3 thus far in the preseason and are coming off two very strong wins against the San Jose Sharks. On Tuesday, they picked up a 7-5 win at the Scotiabank Saddledome and then on Thursday, collected a 4-3 victory in San Jose.
"A step in the right direction," he said following Thursday's win at the SAP Center. "The pace we played at, we had a little bit more intensity in battles and everything else. What we need to do is get through the game in Edmonton healthy and get in two good days of practice prior to going to Vancouver. Practice days are as important as the game (on Saturday)."
Saturday's game will be streamed on CalgaryFlames.com at 1 p.m. Due to league regulations, regional restrictions will apply.
