Preview: Flames at Bruins

FLAMES (9-12-1) at BRUINS (11-9-0)7:30 p.m. ET; NESN, SNW, NHL.TV

Flames team scope

Calgary Flames goaltender Chad Johnson will make his second straight start and sixth in the past seven games. Johnson, who played for the Boston Bruins during the 2013-14 season, has won four of his past five starts, allowing six goals in that span, and is 6-3-1 twith a 2.08 goals-against average and .922 save percentage. Johnson's strong play comes at a time when No. 1 goaltender Brian Elliott is struggling with a 3-9-0 record, 3.43 goals-against average and .882 save percentage. "For me, if that night I'm the guy, then I'm happy about it," Johnson told the Calgary Herald. "I obviously want to be in net every night and I want to be able to be relied upon." The Flames are 2-1-0 on their six-game road trip. Forward Kris Versteeg, who returned from a nine-game injury absence on Wednesday, left practice early on Thursday with an apparent injury, but coach Glen Gulutzan did not provide an update. The Flames did not have a morning skate. Calgary recalled center Mark Jankowski from Stockton of the American Hockey League, Jankowski, 22, the No. 21 pick of 2012 NHL Draft, has 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 13 games with Stockton this season.

Bruins team scope

The Bruins played without defenseman Zdeno Chara because of a lower-body injury during a 3-1 loss at the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, and he's doubtful to play Friday. Coach Claude Julien was let down by how the Bruins responded to playing without their captain against Ottawa. "It's disappointing that in an important game like this, we came out with one of our worst efforts in probably a month," Julien told the Boston Herald. "I didn't like our game [Thursday] - decision-making, puck management. I'd say there were a lot of no-shows as well, and those are things that can't happen in those kind of games." The Bruins, who have lost their past two games, didn't have a morning skate, and it isn't known if goaltender Tuukka Rask will start for the second straight night until game time. Anton Khudobin (upper body) might return from the injured list and be able to play for the first time since Oct. 22.

Flames projected lineup

Kris Versteeg - Sean Monahan - Troy Brouwer
Matthew Tkachuk - Mikael Backlund - Michael Frolik
Sam Bennett - Matt Stajan - Alex Chiasson
Micheal Ferland - Freddie Hamilton - Garnet Hathaway
Mark Giordano - Dougie Hamilton
TJ Brodie - Dennis Wideman
Brett Kulak - Deryk Engelland
Chad Johnson
Brian Elliott
Scratched:Jyrki Jokipakka, Hunter Shinkaruk, Mark Jankowski
Injured:Ladislav Smid (neck), Lance Bouma (upper body), Johnny Gaudreau (broken finger)

Bruins projected lineup

Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak
Matt Beleskey - David Krejci - David Backes
Ryan Spooner - Riley Nash - Austin Czarnik
Tim Schaller - Dominic Moore - Jimmy Hayes
John-Michael Liles - Brandon Carlo
Torey Krug - Adam McQuaid
Joe Morrow - Kevan Miller
Tuukka Rask
Zane McIntyre
Scratched:Colin Miller
Injured:Zdeno Chara (lower body), Anton Khudobin (upper body), Noel Acciari (lower body)

Status report

If Versteeg is unable to play because of an undisclosed injury, the Flames will juggle their lines accordingly.

Who's hot

Dougie Hamilton, who will play his second game back in Boston since the Bruins traded him to the Flames on June 26, 2015, has four assists and a plus-7 rating in his past four games. ... Pastrnak scored against the Senators after missing three games with an upper-body injury. He has a goal in seven of his past nine games and leads Boston with 11 goals.