NEW YEAR
The Boston Bruins return home after starting the New Year with a win over the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2 at the NHL Winter Classic. Tonight the B’s host the Calgary Flames, who are playing the back to back games after winning 5-3 over the Detroit Red Wings. The Flames have now moved to first in the Western Conference, while the Bruins have moved into 3rd position in the Atlantic Division. Calgary’s recent record has been 3-0-1 in the past few games, and 10-3 in the past 16 games. With the win over the ‘Hawks, Boston has now won their second straight game and fifth in their past seven games.
BRUINS UPDATES
Earlier today, the Bruins announced that forward Joakim Nordstrom sustained a non-displaced fibula fracture and will remain out of the lineup until further evaluation in three weeks. Nordstom’s injury occurred during the Winter Classic. The Swedish native has played 39 games for the Black and Gold, posting five goals with two assists while being slotted up between the first few lines. Right-winger David Pastrnak, who was recently named to the NHL All-Star team, leads the team with 24 goals with 26 assists for 50 points so far this season. He is currently tied for fourth in the league for goals and tied for first in powerplay goals. Brad Marchand leads the team in assists (26) and is tied in second with Patrice Bergeron with 13 goals.
Coach Bruce Cassidy issued an update on Charlie McAvoy with a possible return on Tuesday or Thursday. David Krejci and wife Naomi welcomed a baby boy this morning; he will be in the lineup tonight. This morning’s rushes for the Bruins:
Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak
Donato-Krejci-DeBrusk
Kualy-Acciari-Wagner
Heninen-Cave-JFK
Chara-Carlo
Grzelcyk-Miller
Krug-Moore
Halak
Rask
Possible start in net: Halak, although at the timing of this writing, no official announcement from the Bruins Camp.
CALGARY NOTES
Calgary Flames forward Johhny “Hockey” Gaudreau has accumulated eight points in his past two games with three goals and five assists. He has 14 points in his past six games. He is tied with Center Sean Monahan for goals at 22. Gaudreau has 59 points, with Monahan not far behind with 50 points this season. He is now fifth in the league behind Connor Mcdavid and Nikita Kucherov. Gaudreau also has the most point by a Calgary Flame player in team history over the first half year. That feat tied the franchise record set by forward Bob MacMillam (then-called Atlanta Flames) in the 1978-79 season.
Projected lineup for Calgary
Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Bennett-Jankowski-Neal
Dube-Ryan-Hathaway
Giodano-Brodie
Hanifin-Hamonic
Kylington-Andersson
Smith
Gillers
WHEN TO WATCH: TD Garden, tonight with puck drop 7:00 pm
WHERE TO WATCH: NESN, ESPN+
NEXT GAME: Boston vs. Buffalo
