The hamstring he injured two nights earlier won't require surgery, meaning he'll likely be back in a matter of weeks, not months. The first-line center, who has a team-high 23 goals and 55 points this season, is considered day-to-day, according to coach Travis Green.

The late season of the Calgary Flames is getting warm and they will have to do without their captain, Mark Giordano, for at least a week.

Predators: Off to a 2-0-0 start on its four-game trip, Nashville's next stop is Saturday night at Edmonton.

Barclay Goodrow had the primary assist on the game-winning goal in the Sharks' 3-1 road victory over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night, but that might not have been his most important contribution to San Jose's successful effort. You know? We're right there, with 30 games to go. "So, you're never going to be able to replace a guy like that and I think everyone knows that, but at the same time, I think you have to keep pushing forward". "I think it's very encouraging that my season's not lost and I can get back after the rehab process".

Giordano is the defensive backbone of a Flames team battling for a playoff berth in a tight Western Conference.

"I've played a few here. So, we have a decision to make, obviously, but we're confident the guys in the lineup are capable of stepping up".

While that made the team's heart-and-soul leader and 2019 Norris Trophy victor a no-go for Thursday's game against the visiting Nashville Predators, there is no clear timetable for his return beyond that.

"We've got good news", said GM Brad Treliving.

"The reality is you're going to have injuries - it's how you deal with them". The good news is this is not as long term as we initially feared. "We're going to monitor it on a week-to-week basis". "It's crunch time right now".

"You're never going to replace the Norris victor, our best player, our leader, hardest worker", defenceman Travis Hamonic said after Wednesday's practice.

Rasmus Andersson will likely be looked upon to take the biggest jump, pairing up with Noah Hanifin on the second unit. For us, we have to shield ourselves against that and if he does miss some time that we're ready to step up and fill the void left by him.

It was Calgary's first game without captain Mark Giordano.

"I'm really happy I don't have to worry about surgery and something that will end my season", said Giordano, who said he didn't feel a pop when his legs splayed awkwardly. "You just try to take advantage of that". "I'll wait until that moment and go from there".

"I know all of the names".

"It was really stiff (Wednesday) morning", said Giordano, whose team sits in the second wild-card position heading into Thursday's home game against a surging Nashville squad that sits three back. Giordano walked out of the Flames dressing room on Thursday, without any real mobility issues and reported that the injury was "loosening up and improving". Hopefully that happens every day. He skated around the net and got the pass back in the right dot where he shot the puck from one knee and then appeared to do a split. When you can't help the team you shouldn't play.

Both players may get another chance to play Thursday in Edmonton.