FRO-MIDABLE PERFORMANCE

We've all heard of the critically-acclaimed Johnny and Mony Show, a regular viewing staple for fans in these parts.
Wednesday evening at the Scotiabank Saddledome, it was an Emmy-worthy episode of the Backs and Fro Show that brought the crowd to its feet and helped the team get a W and improve to 4-2 on the season.
The theme song for the night? Reunited And It Feels So Good.
Back after sitting out Saturday's win over the Avalanche and again skating alongside 3M linemates Mikael Backlund and Matthew Tkachuk, Michael Frolik - named the game's first star - scored a pair of goals and was a force right from the opening whistle as the Flames skated to a 5-2 victory over the Boston Bruins.

Backlund, who co-starred with the same jump in his step and dominating presence at both ends of the ice, got the helper on both markers.
Tkachuk got the late empty-netter for good measure.
The other goals came courtesy of Johnny Gaudreau, with his 100th career tally, and rookie Juuso Valimaki, who notched his first - teammate Michael Stone grabbing the puck as souvenir for the youngster.
Mike Smith made many 10-bell saves - especially early in the first period - and finished the night with 24 stops.
Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand scored for the Bruins.
"Ya, it's definitely a tough start (to the season) for me," said Frolik. "I think it's hockey, ya know, there's highs and lows. Obviously didn't have the start I was looking for but it's a long season. We are five games or six games into the season and is a lot of games in front of us. I just try to work hard at practice and try to get better every day. Hopefully it's gonna turn around and I think tonight was a good start and hopefully I can keep going."
The first great chance of the contest came less than three minutes in when Frolik took a pass from Backlund on a 2-on-1 and looked to have a sure thing on a one-timer, however Tuukka Rask slid across to rob him by shooting out his pad.
But a few minutes later, at the 5:34 mark, they made good on their next opportunity, when Tkachuk won a foot race to a puck that was chipped into the Boston zone and spun with a backhand pass to Backlund who deftly sent the puck over to Frolik, whose one-timer found the back of the net this time.
Later on in the frame, Tkachuk won another race to the puck and streaked down the boards before passing to the trailing Frolik, who was stymied again by Rask who closed the wickets on his five-hole attempt.

An innocent looking play led to the Flames next goal, with Gaudreau literally Johnny on the Spot after Noah Hanifin took a sharp-angle shot from down low and Sean Monahan swept the rebound across the crease with one hand to No. 13, who calmly tapped it home with less than five minutes to play in the period.
Just 48 seconds later, Valimaki - the Flames 2017 first-round pick - faked a big slapshot and froze Noel Acciari near the blue-line and then took three of four strides toward the net before firing a high shot from the left faceoff circle that Rask got a piece of but it went up and over his head and dropped to the ice and slid across the goal-line.
The Bruins appeared to have tied things up with 2:43 remaining in the first, after Pastrnak one-timed a cross-ice pass from Marchand but Bill Peters challenged the play as offside. After review, the ref agreed and overturned the call.
The Flames started the second period on the powerplay and 44 seconds in it became a two-man advantage but they weren't able to capitalize.
Shortly after, the Bruins finally got on the board when Bergeron turned and fired a bouncing pass from David Krejci.
Then it was time for another edition of the Backs and Fro Show, when Backlund picked up a puck and swooped towards the net, feeding Frolik as he skated backwards across the top of the crease and redirected it in at 3:32.
"Every time you score, your confidence goes a little higher," said Frolik. "After you feel more comfortable out there and that's the way it felt tonight."
Later, Frolik got a golden chance to complete the hat-trick on a breakaway but put a rising backhand over the net.
Marchand brought the visitors back within two with 6:11 left in the second, cashing in a long cross-ice pass from Bergeron.
Tkachuk's marker was the lone tally of the third period.
"Fro, that's how he practices," said Peters, when asked about his forward's bounceback game. "Fro has been outstanding in practices, his attitude has been very good. Everyone wants to play more, everyone wants more opportunity and you saw what he did with his opportunity when he got back in the lineup. He took advantage of it. Really good, and I know the guys were really happy for him."

ONE-TIMERS:

This is the first of two matchups this season between the Flames and the Bruins. These two teams will meet again on Jan. 3 in Boston … On the one-year anniversary of Gord Downie's death, the Flames played a pre-game video featuring the song Little Bones in tribute … It was back-to-back games with goals for Gaudreau, who notched career tally No. 99 with the overtime winner against the Avs Saturday night. For those wondering, the passing wizard has 197 helpers … Mark Giordano sits just three game-winning goals and two shorthanded points shy of tying Al MacInnis for the top spot by a defenceman in both franchise categories … James Neal is just three points away from 500 … Frolik needs just one more apple to hit 200.

NEXT UP:

The Flames host the Nashville Predators Friday night (7 p.m., TV: Sportsnet 360; Radio: Sportsnet960 THE FAN) for their second meeting of this young season. Calgary skated to a 3-0 win in Nashville on Oct. 9. Monahan paced the visitors in that tilt with two goals, while linemate Gaudreau collected three helpers.