Red-hot Flames next up for Bruins
CALGARY — The Calgary Flames, to say the least, have gotten it going.
The Flames have won 10 in a row and will be going for a franchise-record 11th straight tonight against the Bruins. They’ve just beaten the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins and have clawed their way up, going from being a bubble team to well ensconced in the Western Conference playoff race.
The Flames’ confidence is at a season high.
“Yeah, sounds a lot like us,” B’s interim coach Bruce Cassidy said yesterday at the Saddledome.
Yes, tonight’s game should be fun.
The B’s might not be quite as hot as the Flames or as comfortable in their playoff positioning, but they have won 11-of-14 games under Cassidy. Brad Marchand, who before last night’s games was tied with Sidney Crosby for the most goals (35) in the league and was one point behind scoring leader Connor McDavid, has put himself into the Hart Trophy conversation.
The B’s also are getting contributions from David Pastrnak and his ninegame point streak, Patrice Bergeron and a rejuvenated David Krejci.
The Flames have their own undersized star in former Boston College forward Johnny Gaudreau, who matched Marchand’s highlight-reel goal with one of his own in Calgary’s win against Pittsburgh.
“They’re clicking, and I’d like to think our group is humming along offensively as well. We’re getting good goaltending, our D are joining the rush,” Cassidy said. “It will come down to who plays their game better and probably who makes the crucial play at the right time or who makes the save at the right time.”
The B’s can’t let the Flames get rolling through the neutral zone, which happened a few times against the Canucks on Monday. The B’s overcame that in the 6-3 win, but the Canucks are a team that’s swirling the drain. The Flames are the hottest team in hockey. If the Bruins play like they did in Vancouver, it could get ugly.
“We don’t know a lot about them,” Cassidy said. “We saw them once at the start of the year (a 2-1 Calgary win at the Garden on Nov. 24), and I don’t think either of us were at the top of their game like they are now. I know they’re a transition team. If you don’t manage the puck, they’ll come back at you.
“We’ve had some issues with that part of our game at times. You saw it against (Vancouver’s Daniel and Henrik Sedin) the other night, so that’s an area where we have to be more mindful. We’ll pay a steeper price if we get into that kind of a game. It doesn’t mean we can’t attack. I know we’re going to give up some chances. Their D gets up the ice, and they’re feeling good about themselves, but we’ve got to minimize the Grade A (chances) against, the quality chances off the rush.
“Other than that, we’re going to try to play our game as best we can. I know they’ve got good pace to their game, and I hope it brings out the best in ours because I like when we’re skating. I’m actually looking forward to the game. It’s a team we don’t see that often, but with the way they’re going and the way we’re going, it’s going to be a good challenge for us.”
Spooner closes in
Cassidy said Ryan Spooner has gone through the concussion protocol, and he is “cautiously optimistic” the center will play tonight.
Spooner was one of a handful of players at the optional skate and struck the same tone as Cassidy.
“I’ve had seven days now, I feel good,” he said. “I’ll skate in the morning and see how I feel, but as of right now, I feel fine. I went through the exertion test and everything else I had to do, and it’s been fine.”
Spooner was injured a week ago Monday when Ottawa’s Viktor Stalberg caught him on the chin with an elbow. Stalberg got two minutes but no supplemental discipline.
“I don’t think so,” Spooner said when asked if it was suspension-worthy. “The puck got dumped in, and I think he was trying to pick me, and he’s like 6-foot-3, so I think was a bit of an accident. I just didn’t see it coming. I was kind of looking to my side, and he came across. I don’t think he’s that kind of player. I think it was just a bad bounce for me.”
Though the B’s were 3-0 against Detroit, Philadelphia and Vancouver, Spooner’s absence has been felt. Cassidy said if Spooner can play, he’ll go to his third-line center spot, but he did not want to speculate on who would come out of the lineup.
Khudobin gets call
Cassidy did say that Anton Khudobin will get the start against the Flames, and the backup, 3-0 under Cassidy, is excited.
“And I think I’ve never played here, so it’s pretty cool,” Khudobin said.