Flames at Bruins preview

FLAMES (32-25-6) at BRUINS (39-12-12)
7 p.m. ET; NESN, SNW; TV, NHL.TV

The defenseman and Flames captain has missed nine games with a lower-body injury. Erik Gustafsson, who was acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday, and Derek Forbort, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Kings on Monday, will make their debuts for the Flames, who are 5-3-0 in their past eight games.
Nick Ritchie will make his debut for the Atlantic Division-leading Bruins, who will look for their 12th win in their past 14 games (11-2-0). Ritchie was acquired from the Anaheim Ducks on Monday.
Goalie Tuukka Rask will try to extend his home point streak to 21 games, which would break Tiny Thompson's Bruins record (20-0-0 in 1929-30). Rask is 14-0-6 at home this season.

Players to watch

Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau has five points (two goals, three assists) during a four-game point streak.
Bruins forward Brad Marchand has nine points (one goal, eight assists) during a six-game point streak.

They said it

"As soon as I found out it was Calgary, I was pumped. Being part of a dogfight to get into the [Stanley Cup Playoffs], that's fun hockey. That gets your juices flowing. I'm excited to be a part of it, excited to join the fellas and try to help them."-- Flames defenseman Derek Forbort
"Well he's obviously played in the League, a big-bodied guy, should be able to contribute with a net-front process. Has a good shot, better hands than maybe he's gotten credit for. We'll have to see where he fits best here."-- Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy on forward Nick Ritchie

Flames projected lineup

Johnny Gaudreau -- Sean Monahan -- Elias Lindholm
Andrew Mangiapane -- Mikael Backlund -- Matthew Tkachuk
Milan Lucic -- Derek Ryan -- Dillon Dube
Sam Bennett -- Mark Jankowski -- Tobias Rieder
Mark Giordano --
TJ Brodie
Noah Hanifin -- Rasmus Andersson
Derek Forbort -- Erik Gustafsson
David Rittich
Cam Talbot
Scratched:Michael Stone, Zac Rinaldo, Oliver Kylington
Injured:Travis Hamonic (upper body)

Bruins projected lineup

Brad Marchand -- Patrice Bergeron -- David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk -- David Krejci -- Karson Kuhlman
Nick Ritchie -- Charlie Coyle -- Anders Bjork
Sean Kuraly -- Par Lindholm -- Chris Wagner
Zdeno Chara -- Charlie McAvoy
Torey Krug -- Brandon Carlo
Matt Grzelcyk -- Jeremy Lauzon
Tuukka Rask
Jaroslav Halak
Scratched:John Moore, Joakim Nordstrom
Injured:Ondrej Kase (upper body), Kevan Miller (knee), Connor Clifton (lower body)

Status report

Gustafsson will be on the first power-play unit. … Kase, a forward, has been skating but will miss his third game since he was traded to the Bruins by the Anaheim on Feb. 21. He hasn't played since Feb. 7.

Stat pack

Backlund has four points (two goals, two assists) during a three-game point streak. … Pastrnak has six points (three goals, three assists) during a three-game point streak, and leads the NHL with 45 goals.