Need to Know: Bruins vs. Flyers

BOSTON - The Bruins will be aiming to improve to 15-2-0 - and a record 10-0-0 on home ice - as they welcome the Philadelphia Flyers to TD Garden on Thursday night in the second game of a three-game homestand. Here's everything you need to know ahead of the 7 p.m. ET puck drop on NESN and 98.5 The Sports Hub:

Stralman Subs In:Defenseman Anton Stralman will play in his fifth game of the season - and the first since Nov. 3 in New York - on Thursday night, suiting up on the left side of Boston's third pairing with Brandon Carlo. Jakub Zboril will be a healthy scratch.
"It's always a bit of a challenge," Stralman said of not having played for two weeks. "I think you go out there and you're trying to find your way, find the patterns of the game, all those things. But it obviously helps with the team being as good and connected as they are."
Stralman, a veteran of 16 NHL seasons, acknowledged that it's been a "crazy start" after joining the Bruins on a professional tryout agreement and subsequently having his debut delayed by visa issues. As such, it's been tough for the 36-year-old to find a rhythm.
"Ever since those days, it's just been trying to play catch up a little bit and work on my game behind the scenes…just be ready when that call came and tonight's the night," said Stralman. "It was good we had a couple of days practicing and I feel like I'm in a good spot mentally and physically.
"But it kind of started weird for me…I have to deal with it, but that's more of a mental part, I think. But it's a team sport and I'm here to win and the team is winning, so that's what makes me happy."

No Other Changes: The Bruins' lineup will remain the same outside of Stralman subbing in for Zboril. David Pastrnak will stay on Boston's top line alongside Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron, while Jake DeBrusk will stick with Taylor Hall and David Krejci.
Linus Ullmark will make the start between the pipes.

Opposing View:The Flyers are in the midst of a four-game losing streak (0-3-1) and carry a 7-6-3 record into Thursday night's contest. Philadelphia, which fell to Columbus, 5-4, in overtime on Tuesday night, is fifth in the Metro Division with 17 points.
Travis Konecny paces Philly with seven goals and 19 points in 16 games. Kevin Hayes (4-12-16), Joel Farabee (3-7-10), Tony DeAngelo (3-6-9), and Ivan Provorov (1-7-8) round out the Flyers' top-five in scoring.
Carter Hart has carried the load in goal with a 6-2-3 record, 2.42 goals against average, and .929 save percentage in 11 games.
Philadelphia's new bench boss, John Torotorella - a Massachusetts native - will coach in his 1,400th NHL game on Thursday night, becoming the first American-born head coach to hit that mark.

Thursday's Projected Lineup

FORWARDS
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak
Taylor Hall - David Krejci - Jake DeBrusk
Trent Frederic - Charlie Coyle - Pavel Zacha
Nick Foligno - Tomas Nosek - A.J. Greer
DEFENSEMEN
Matt Grzelcyk - Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm - Connor Clifton
Anton Stralman - Brandon Carlo
GOALIES
Linus Ullmark
Jeremy Swayman