Flames at Bruins
THE STORY: A road trip that started with such promise has taken a sharp U-turn for the Calgary Flames, who will play their seventh consecutive game away from home when they visit the Boston Bruins on Thursday night. The Flames had won four in a row, including the first two of this seven-game road trip, before absorbing four straight defeats. Now they must contend with the reigning Stanley Cup champs, who have won 22 of their last 26 games (22-3-1) and have lost just twice at home since Oct. 27. “We have a chance at a .500 road trip and we have a tough team left,” Flames captain Jarome Iginla. “That wouldn’t be a bad trip.” After having its seven-game winning streak snapped on New Year’s Eve, Boston opened 2012 with a vengeance by crushing the host New Jersey Devils 6-1 on Wednesday night.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, RSW, NESN
ABOUT THE FLAMES (18-18-5): Iginla has scored twice on the road trip to give him 499 career goals. If he fails to collect No. 500 against Boston, he'll have a good chance to become the 42nd player to reach the milestone at the Scotiabank Saddledome when Calgary opens a four-game homestand on Saturday night. LW Curtis Glencross scored the only goal in Tuesday's loss at Washington, giving him seven in the last nine games and extending his points streak to three games.
ABOUT THE BRUINS (25-20-1): Boston spotted the Devils a 1-0 lead before ripping off six straight goals – its 10th game with at least six goals this season. The Bruins have a stunning goal differential of plus-60 (129-69). Detroit is next at plus-40. Patrice Bergeron had two goals and David Krejci added a goal and an assist to give him three goals and five assists during a six-game points streak. G Tuukka Rask will likely start Thursday. He’s won his last three starts, including two shutouts.
OVERTIME:
1. Flames LW Rene Bourque was suspended five games Wednesday for elbowing Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom in the head.
2. Boston has won the last two meetings against the Flames, outscoring them 8-1.