With their backs against the wall, the Calgary Flames have opted for tweaks over daring change.

The big question heading into Game 4 of a series the Flames trail 3-0 to the Anaheim Ducks was whether coach Glen Gulutzan would go back to Brian Elliott in the crease after the goalie had a rough outing in Game 3. That issue was officially settled by Gulutzan after the Flames’ pre-game skate on Wednesday morning.

“Ells is going tonight,” he said.

While Gulutzan is sticking by Elliott and his .887 series save percentage, he did at least tap the blend button on his lineup, inserting Curtis Lazar and Freddie Hamilton in for Matt Stajan and Lance Bouma. The changes mean the Flames’ fourth line is likely to feature Lazar between Hamilton on the left and Troy Brouwer on the right.

“It’s an energy thing,” Gulutzan said. “We’re down three.”

Gulutzan noted Lazar and Hamilton will both bring some speed and give a team facing an Anaheim squad that’s lights out on faceoffs a different look on the draws, thanks to the right-shooting Lazar replacing the lefty Stajan.

“I’m not trying to re-invent the wheel,” said Lazar, whose signature smile was on full display Wednesday morning. “I’m just gonna play my game.”

Lazar, drafted 17th overall by the Ottawa Senators in 2013, became a Flame on trade deadline day when Calgary sent defenceman Jyrki Jokipakka and a 2017 second-round pick to Ottawa for Lazar and depth defenceman Mike Kostka.

The 22-year-old was having trouble staying in the Senators lineup and was long rumoured to be available for the right price. In four games with the Flames, Lazar averaged just under 12 minutes of ice time per contest and produced a noteworthy one goal and three assists in that limited role.

As for Hamilton, who’s one year older than brother and teammate Dougie Hamilton, has managed two goals in 26 outings this season while seeing just under 10 minutes of ice time per game.

Beyond some minor tangible change, Gulutzan is also hoping the body swap does something to alter the mentality of his team as it tries to climb out of a huge hole. Most of the guys playing in Game 4 have given everything they’ve had for no return thus far; that same burden doesn’t necessarily weigh on Lazar and Hamilton.

“It’s also two guys who are not down 3-0 in the series,” Gulutzan said.

Maybe that will help change the state of things for all the Flames in Game 4.