Preview: Calgary Flames vs Boston Bruins 2/20/20 (62/82): Red Hot Bruins Invade The Saddledome

Calgary Flames vs Boston Bruins, 7:00 PM MT, Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary AB

TV: ESPN+, SN1, SNE, SNO, SNP

– Radio: Sportsnet 960

Calgary Flames 31-24-6 (68 pts) – Boston Bruins 38-11-12 (88 Points)

NHL Standings

The Flames are back and their final home game of this current three game home stand sees them take on the Boston Bruins. Calgary last took to the ice on Monday and defeated the Anaheim Ducks 6-4. The Flames are 5-5-0 in their last 10 and there’s not better way to describe this team than that: not terrible, but not great either. That’s been the problem with this team all year and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. The Flames are just “meh.” They’re a team capable of losing six in a row and in the blink of an eye, win seven in a row. There has been no consistency with this group all season and despite that fact the Flames STILL hold the top WC spot in the Western Conference. Make no mistake about it: the Flames aren’t holding onto that spot because they are good. Calgary is in that position because the Pacific Division is a joke and no one seems to want to win it.

What’s not a joke? The Boston Bruins. The B’s are an absolute juggernaut in not just the Eastern Conference, but in the NHL. Their 88 points is tops across the board with Pittsburgh being the closest to them at 80. The Bruins have won 14 out of their last 18 and they’ve been doing it by shutting down the opposition’s offence. In their 14 wins they’ve allowed more than two goals only once, a 5-4 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Otherwise they’ve allowed an average of 1.08 goals per game over the other 13 wins. That’s just ridiculous. Speaking of ridiculous you can’t not mention David Pastrnak. The Bruins winger leads the NHL in goals and is tied for second in points. He also has 12 points (6G 6A) in his last nine games.

This doesn’t figure to be an easy contest for the Flames. Calgary is 23-26-4 against the Bruins at the Saddledome, but they are 5-4-1 in their last 10 at home against Boston. If the Flames are smart they will start Cam Talbot tonight in net because David Rittich has not only lost his last seven starts at the Saddledome, but he’s also never beaten the Bruins (0-1-1) in his young career. Cam Talbot meanwhile is 6-3-0 against the Bruins in nine career starts.

Starting Goalies

Flames: Talbot (Expected) 9-9-1, 2.77 GAA, .917 SV%

Bruins: Rask (Expected) 23-5-6, 2.04 GAA, .932 SV%

Team Leaders

Flames – Goals: Lindholm (27), Points: Tkachuk (50), PIM: Tkachuk (65), Save%: Talbot (.917)

Bruins – Goals: Pastrnak (43), Points: Pastrnak (84), PIM: Marchand (70), Save%: Rask (.932)

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Boston Bruins Coverage: Stanley Cup Of Chowder

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 6 – Anaheim Ducks 4

Boston Bruins 2 – Edmonton Oilers 1 (OT)

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames

Mikael Backlund (C): 6 points in last 5 games

Boston Bruins

Brad Marchand (F): 6 assists in last 5 games

by Mark Parkinson