Matt Dumba expected to play first game in hometown tonight

UPDATED

Afternoon from Calgary.

Matt Dumba and Stu Bickel switched places this morning.

After a 6 a.m. flight from Des Moines to Denver and a connection to Calgary, the Wild's 20-year-old defenseman rushed to the Saddledome and took the ice late.

Ryan Suter will be able to play tonight, so it sounds like Dumba will play for Christian Folin because coach Mike Yeo wants Nate Prosser in the lineup for his penalty-kill role.

Dumba was born in Regina, Sask., but moved to Calgary at age 6 or 7. He played several times at the Saddledome as a youth and played his junior hockey up the road in Red Deer, so this will be a "dream come true" tonight.

He'll have about 20 family members here tonight, including his parents and his brother, who is expected to play next year for the WHL Calgary Hitmen, aunts, uncles, little cousins. He'll have several buddies, too.

"It was kind of weird because earlier in the week my buddies were getting hold of me asking if I was getting called up after the AHL All-Star Game, and I really didn't know," Dumba said. "I basically said, 'No, find other plans (laughing).'

"It worked out. Last night I had to keep it on the down low, so I told them not to tweet or put anything on Instagram. Hopefully they'll all be here tonight."

He said he told his mom, "I'll see you tomorrow night, and she was so confused. She started freaking out."

He grew up 20 minutes from the arena and loved the Flames growing up: "Jarome [Iginla] was probably my favorite player."

He said he was up pretty early, "but I'm a really good sleeper on planes. I slept before we took off and through the landing."

Yeo said, "It's an interesting one given his personality. He's typically a guy who's not going to have the type of game where he's not going to be noticed. He wants to have an impact and wants to make a difference every time he's on the ice, and part of that is what makes him an effective player and part of that is still how he has to grow and mature as a player.

"I think the conversation that would be had if he's in the lineup tonight will be similar to what we told him last time. We want you to be impactful, we want you to make plays and try to be a differencemaker, but you have to make sure you understand there's certain times where a more simpler play and letting the game come to you a little bit more is what's needed."

Yeo liked his recent stretch of games before being sent back for the All-Star Game.

Also, Matt Cooke (death in family) arrrived back in Calgary and will play tonight. Erik Haula is the likely scratch.