"A lot of guys haven't skated for a couple of weeks, plus with COVID, so guys who tested positive, everyone's going to react a little different," coach Darryl Sutter said. "It's not like we're working with a theme in practice; you're just trying to get through the first one."
Sutter said the Flames are preparing as if they will play at the Seattle Kraken on Thursday (10 p.m. ET; ROOT-NW, SNW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). It would be their first game since Dec. 11, when they lost 4-2 to the Boston Bruins.
"We've just got to find our legs, our lungs, our hands and our game again," Flames forward Milan Lucic said. "That's one thing about Darryl, he's going to make us work hard the next couple of days so we're ready for that game, whenever it is. The coaching staff is going to push us, players are going to push each other. That's what we're going to do to get ready."
On Dec. 13, Calgary (15-7-6) had its next three games postponed after six players and a staff member entered NHL COVID-19 protocol within a 24-hour period. By Dec. 17, it had 19 players, three coaches and nine staff members in protocol, and the NHL shut it down through the holiday break.
The NHL began its holiday break Wednesday, two days earlier than scheduled because of COVID-19 outbreaks. It was planning to resume games Monday but announced Friday that 14 games scheduled for Monday would be postponed so it and the NHL Players' Association could analyze COVID-19 test results after teams returned to their facilities Sunday.
The Flames were scheduled to play Monday at home against the Edmonton Oilers. It is their seventh straight game postponed due to COVID-19 concerns.
Goalie Jacob Markstrom said he skated a bit Saturday in preparation for practice.
"I need a good meal and a good sleep and hopefully game shape tomorrow," said Markstrom, who was 10-6-5 with a 1.94 goals-against average, a .933 save percentage and five shutouts in 21 games before the Flames were shut down. "… You need a couple of practices and should be good. We've been working out, trying to stay as fit as possible while staying healthy while not pushing yourself too hard if you're sick. You try to stay somewhat in shape. I feel everybody's been doing a good job. It's the same for a lot of teams around the League, not just us."
The NHL announced Sunday that the game scheduled for Tuesday between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks has been postponed, as have the Pittsburgh Penguins-Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins-Ottawa Senators games scheduled for Wednesday.
The NHL has postponed 67 games this season due to COVID-19 concerns; one was played (the Ottawa Senators defeated the New Jersey Devils 3-2 in the shootout Dec. 6 in a game initially scheduled for Nov. 16), and one has been rescheduled (the New York Rangers will host the New York Islanders on March 17 in a game initially scheduled for Nov. 28).
