The Calgary Flames (3-2-0, 6 points) are back at home after a fairly successful three game road trip. They kick off a brief homestand tonight against the Boston Bruins (4-1-0, 8 points), who they most recently saw in China about a month ago.
The action starts at 7:30 p.m. MT on Sportsnet 360 and Sportsnet 960 The Fan. It’s a later start than usual because NBC Sports Network is doing a doubleheader, with this game following the Rangers and Capitals at 5 p.m. MT.

The Flames

Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:
Gaudreau – Monahan – Lindholm
Tkachuk – Backlund – Frolik
Bennett – Jankowski – Neal
Hathaway – Ryan – Czarnik
Giordano – Brodie
Hanifin – Andersson
Valimaki – Stone
Mike Smith returns to the crease after being off on Saturday night as David Rittich got a big win. The projected scratches are Dalton Prout and Anthony Peluso. Dillon Dube won’t dress due to an minor injury suffered against Nashville, so Mark Jankowski sticks around and Michael Frolik slides back into the lineup on the wing.
The Flames had three good periods on their road trip: three in their win over Nashville, one in their loss in St. Louis, and two in Colorado. There are two simple rules about their game: if they show up for most of the game they tend to win, and they’ve been inconsistent with their defensive zone play. They need more consistency, both in their own end and in playing a smart 200-foot game more often.

The Bruins

Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:
Marchand – Bergeron – Pastrnak
Nordstrom – Krejci – DeBrusk
Donato – Backes – Bjork
Wagner – Kuraly – Acciari
Chara – McAvoy
Grzelcyk – Miller
Moore – Carlo
Tuukka Rask starts for the Bruins in the first game of a back-to-back, with Jaroslav Halak backing up (and starting on Thursday against Edmonton). The scratches are Steven Kampfer and Dalton Heinen.
Like the Flames, the Bruins have been idle since Saturday night. After being shut out 7-0 by Washington on opening night, they’ve scored 4, 6, 4 and 8 goals per game. They’ve given up 2, 3, 1 and 0 goals against. They’ll be a tough out, and the key for the Flames will be to play a smart defensive game and not get too leaky with quality scoring chances against.

The Numbers

CGY
BOS
Wins
3
4
Points
6
8
Corsi Close
59.9%
57.5%
Power Play
20.0%
41.7%
Penalty Kill
80.0%
68.8%

Injury Report

The Flames are missing D Travis Hamonic (facial fracture) and F Dillon Dube (lower-body).
The Bruins are without D Torey Krug (ankle).

History Lesson

This is the first of two games between the Flames and Bruins this season. They’ll meet again in Boston in January.

Know Thy Enemy

Your Bruins Twitter follows for tonight: