The mix-’n-matching on the Calgary Flames blueline continues.

For Saturday night’s visit by the Chicago Blackhawks (8 p.m., Scotiabank Saddledome), Derek Smith draws back into the lineup beside Chris Butler on one pairing, with veteran campaigner Cory Sarich the odd man out.

The re-jig comes after the Flames were torched for six goals by the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday, and sacrifices grit, which may or may not prove a good tactic against a team that can throw Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa over the boards.

The Smith-Butler combination is a new one. And the experimentation, says coach Bob Hartley, isn’t done yet.

“It’s all about being in the NHL,’’ he explained. “There’s always a first time. But it’s also a very positive challenge. We’ve had different pairings since the start of the year and we’ll keep moving that way until we find the right combinations.

“At the same time, we’ve been injury free on the blueline. We’ve been very lucky. So that allows us to get some guys in the lineup and, unfortunately, out of the lineup. But that’s the way it is in this game.’’

The Hawks, 2-1 SO losers in Vancouver on Friday, arrive to play their third game in four nights. That, you’d assume, would play right into Calgary’s hands. Then again, the Avs trooped into Calgary under similar circumstances and still lit up the locals for a six-spot.

“We address it,’’ said Hartley of the supposed ‘advantage.’

“But, you know, once the puck hits the ice you have to take advantage of your chances put and put teams away. Whether they’re a great team or an average team ... they’re all NHL players.

“You have to take advantage of your chances when you have the puck on your stick. I feel that we could have easily two or three more wins if we would have capitalized on our chances. But that’s the game of hockey.

“Three games in four nights is alwyas tough but those guys are well conditioned. But we just have to play our game.’’

Tonight, the focus will be on the revamped top line, with Michael Camalleri shifted back to the left wing to complement a couple of former collaborators, captain Jarome Iginla and Alex Tanguay.

Both Cammalleri and Iginla are still in search of their first goals.

“Alex has had a strong start,’’ said Iginla following the morning skate. “The first five games, switching positions to centre, playing a lot of minutes. We do know there is a balance but (Iginla and Tanguay) do now we need to help out in the offensive side, too. Cammy and I would like to do that.

“We’ve had some success in the past playing together. I enjoy playing with both of them. Cammy’s a very competitive guy, a very smart hockey player. He gets himself into shooting positions.’’

“Sometimes you shuffle the deck a little bit to try and create reaction,’’ said Hartley. “It’s try to help (Cammalleri), try to help a couple of others and at the same time it’s finding the right combinations to allow us to win some hockey games.’’

Mired at 1-3-1, and finishing up a run of five of their first six starts on home ice, that would be a nice change of pace.

Among the forwards, Steve Begin was taking the extra work Saturday morning meaning he’ll be a scratch this evening.