The Calgary Flames’ playoff hopes were dealt a significant blow on Friday morning when the team announced that captain Mikael Backlund will be out on a week-to-week basis with an upper-body injury.

Mikael Backlund is week to week for the Flames with an upper-body injury. The forward was injured in the first period of a 4-3 shootout loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday.

The Flames put forth a lousy effort in the third period, being outshot 17-4. The Canucks wound up tying the game on Elias Pettersson’s 14th of the season, before winning it in a shootout to pick up the extra crucial point.

For the better part of the last decade, Mikael Backlund has been one of the most important players for the Calgary Flames. He’s first over the boards in virtually every game situation, and he’s routinely matched up against the top players on opposing National Hockey League teams.