"Henrik Karlsson will finally see action between the pipes.

But it won't be with the Calgary Flames just yet.

The backup netminder was assigned to the Abbotsford Heat for a conditioning stint, while Leland Irving was recalled Sunday from the American Hockey League team.

Irving is expected to play Thursday in Phoenix after suiting up for back-to-back games in Rochester last week, dropping a 3-0 decision Thursday and then beating the Americans 3-2 in overtime Friday.

"We're gonna need our backup goaltender to play a game on this trip. We play three games in four nights and come home and play right away again, so you've got four games in six nights with travel involved," said Flames head coach Brent Sutter. "(GM) Jay (Feaster) and I talked about it, and it's important the guy that's playing the game is a guy that's been playing games."