FGD 64: A battle in Boston (5pm MT, SN West)
By Ryan Pike
4 years agoJust 28 hours removed from the trade deadline, the Calgary Flames (32-25-6, 70 points) are back in action as they continue their road trek. Next up? A big challenge against the top team in the NHL, the Boston Bruins (39-12-12, 90 points). These teams locked horns less than a week ago in Calgary with the Bruins coming out on top. Can the Flames get a measure of revenge?
The puck drops just after 5 p.m. MT on Sportsnet West and Sportsnet 960 The Fan.
The Flames
Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:
Gaudreau – Monahan – Lindholm
Mangiapane – Backlund – Tkachuk
Lucic – Ryan – Dube
Bennett – Jankowski – Rieder
Mangiapane – Backlund – Tkachuk
Lucic – Ryan – Dube
Bennett – Jankowski – Rieder
Brodie – Stone
Hanifin – Andersson
Forbort – Gustafsson
Hanifin – Andersson
Forbort – Gustafsson
David Rittich starts for the Flames, backed up by Cam Talbot. The extras are Michael Stone, Oliver Kylington and Zac Rinaldo. Mark Giordano is officially a game-time decision, but he practiced on the second power play unit so it seems likely that he’ll return. Derek Forbort (wearing 20) and Erik Gustafsson (wearing 56) will make their Flames debuts.
Update: No Giordano tonight.
The deadline is past and now the focus is on the remaining 19 games of the season. The big key? Win more than the team’s you’re chasing. The Flames are currently in a wildcard playoff spot and they’re masters of their own destiny right now. Win the games they have to win against the teams they need to beat – primarily conference foes – and they’re in. If they can steal a game here or there against the Bostons and Tampas of the world, that would make their path to the post-season much smoother.
The Bruins
Projected lines, via Daily Faceoff:
Marchand – Bergeron – Pastrnak
DeBrusk – Krejci – Kuhlman
Ritchie – Coyle – Bjork
Kuraly – Lindholm – Wagner
DeBrusk – Krejci – Kuhlman
Ritchie – Coyle – Bjork
Kuraly – Lindholm – Wagner
Chara – McAvoy
Krug – Carlo
Grzelcyk – Lauzon
Krug – Carlo
Grzelcyk – Lauzon
Tuukka Rask starts for Boston, backed up by Jaroslav Halak. Their projected extras are John Moore, Anton Blidh and Joakim Nordstrom.
The Bruins didn’t make huge sweeping changes at the trade deadline, because they didn’t really need to. They’re a really, really good hockey team. They’re deep. They have a pair of reliable goaltenders. They have a young mobile defense. They have a talented forward group. They could win the Stanley Cup this year.
The Bruins are good. And the Flames will need to bring their A-game if they’re going to leave Beantown with some points.
The Numbers
| Flames | Bruins | |
| Wins | 32 | 39 |
| Points | 70 | 90 |
| Adjusted Corsi | 50.2% | 52.2% |
| Power Play | 19.9% | 25.2% |
| Penalty Kill | 82.3% | 84.0% |
Injury Report
The Flames are without D Juuso Valimaki (ACL surgery), D Mark Giordano (hamstring) and D Travis Hamonic (upper body). Giordano could return tonight, though.
The Bruins are missing F Ondrej Kase (illness), D Kevan Miller (knee) and D Connor Clifton (upper body).
When Last We Met
The Flames lost to Boston on Friday. This game will conclude their season series.
Know Thy Enemy
Here are some key Twitter peeps to follow for tonight:
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