At the Rink: Flames at Blue Jackets

COLUMBUS – Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Scott Hartnell will play against the Calgary Flames on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; SNF, FS-O) after a one-game benching.

Hartnell is tied with Brandon Saad for the Columbus lead in points (31) and third in goals (15) but incurred the ire of coach John Tortorella on Saturday when his yapping at the Colorado Avalanche bench instead of completing a line change led to a too-many-men call on the Blue Jackets (17-26-4).

Against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 13, Hartnell was called for two of the Blue Jackets' three penalties.

"Through the past few games, prior to missing the last game, he's been frustrated because he doesn't think he's helping the club," Tortorella said. "He's been off the scoreboard, hasn't got many shots."

Hartnell has gone seven games without a goal.

Right wing Cam Atkinson could sense Hartnell's frustration and said sitting a game may help.

"When you don't get any points or contribute in that way you start to grip the stick a little tighter and start taking dumb penalties," Atkinson said. "He'll be ready to go. You'll see tonight he'll contribute in a big way."

The last time Hartnell was a healthy scratch – Dec. 4 against the Florida Panthers – he responded the next night with a goal and two assists against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Tortorella said he is not looking to curtail Hartnell's energetic and sometimes abrasive style.

"He's a really good player so I'm not looking for a different (Hartnell)," Tortorella said. "I want one who's disciplined right on through; being himself. He needs his personality. I stressed to him to be his own person because he's a throwback. That personality we need within our team.

"It's when the sloppiness comes into play that he's got to reel himself in. If he doesn't, I will."

Jared Boll comes out of the lineup with Hartnell's return.

The Flames (20-21-3) earned three points in the past three games with goaltender Jonas Hiller, but Karri Ramo (15-14-1, 2.61 goals-against average) will start against the Blue Jackets.

"We're very fortunate we have two goalies that can win us some games," coach Bob Hartley said. "[Hiller] gave us a good stretch of three games. Those two guys, the way they play, the way they compete, they're giving us options to make our decisions. They always respond in a very good way."

Defenseman Dougie Hamilton said the Flames have confidence in both goaltenders.

"When you have two great goalies you don't have to think about them behind you," he said.

Deryk Engelland replaces Ladislav Smid on defense and left wing Brandon Bollig goes in for Mason Raymond.

Bollig has a goal, an assist and 56 penalty minutes in 23 games.

"There's a reason I'm in the lineup," he said. "I've got to bring that physical element and also be sound defensively. I'm not confused with what my role is in hockey. I usually try to stay within myself, keep it simple, get the puck deep and wear down the 'D' for our more skilled players."

FLAMES

Johnny Gaudreau - Sean Monahan - Micheal Ferland

Sam Bennett - Mikael Backlund - Michael Frolik

Joe Colborne - Markus Granlund - Jiri Hudler

Brandon Bollig - Matt Stajan - David Jones

Mark Giordano - TJ Brodie

Kris Russell - Dougie Hamilton

Deryk Engelland - Dennis Wideman

Karri Ramo

Jonas Hiller

Injured: Lance Bouma (lower body)

Scratched: Ladislav Smid, Josh Jooris, Mason Raymond

BLUE JACKETS

Boone Jenner - Brandon Dubinsky - Cam Atkinson

Scot Hartnell - Alexander Wennberg – Brandon Saad

Kerby Rychel- William Karlsson - Josh Anderson

Rene Bourque - Gregory Campbell - Markus Hannikainen

Ryan Murray - Seth Jones

Jack Johnson - Cody Goloubef

Fedor Tyutin - Dalton Prout

Sergei Bobrovsky

Joonas Korpisalo

Injured: Matt Calvert (knee), David Clarkson (upper body), Curtis McElhinney (ankle), Nick Foligno (upper body), David Savard (oblique)

Scratched: Justin Falk, Jared Boll

Status report: Tyutin, a healthy scratch in three straight, takes Falk's spot. Foligno, who will miss his sixth consecutive game, is skating again after a hit by Carolina Hurricanes forward Brad Malone on Jan. 8.

Who's hot: The Flames scored twice on the power play against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday and have killed six straight penalties the past three games. "Our penalty killing has been doing great. Our power play has been giving us goals," Hartley said. "Special teams are so important, especially on the road. It can give you momentum and take momentum from your opponent."... Jones has four assists in three games.