Preview: Flames at Blackhawks

FLAMES (1-4-1) at BLACKHAWKS (3-3-0)
8:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, CSN-CH, TVA Sports, SN, NHL.TV

Flames team scope

Goaltender Brian Elliott is expected to start for the Calgary Flames, who have lost their past two games (0-2-0). Elliott, who was acquired from the St. Louis Blues in a trade June 24, is 0-3-0 with a 4.72 goals-against average and .839 save percentage. Elliott was the backup for the Flames' 6-4 loss to the St. Louis Blues at Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday; Chad Johnson made 34 saves. "I expect [Elliott] as a quality, character guy and a quality goalie for years, he's going to find his game," Flames coach Glen Gulutzan said Monday. "I expect fully that's going to happen." Alex Chiasson skated at right wing on the top line during the morning skate, with former Blackhawks forward Michael Frolik at right wing on the third line. Rookie forward Matthew Tkachuk, the No. 6 pick of the 2016 NHL Draft, likely will be a healthy scratch for the second straight game. "We're not just yanking [his] chain," Gulutzan said. "He's fully aware of what we're doing and there is a plan in place for a young guy. There is a definitive strategy involved in what we're doing."

Blackhawks team scope

Goalie Corey Crawford will start for the Chicago Blackhawks, who are looking for their fourth straight win at United Center. Veteran defenseman Michal Rozsival will make his season debut after sitting out the first six games as a healthy scratch. "We want to get everyone in at some point," coach Joel Quenneville said. "We don't want to wait too long to get him into the season here. He can be useful, gives us some experience, can play minutes against top guys, [and] be useful on both [penalty kill] units if you need him. He's been practicing well. Looking forward to getting him in." The Blackhawks' penalty kill continues to struggle. They've allowed a power-play goal in all six games and 12 in 21 times shorthanded (42.9 percent), which ranks 30th in the League. The Flames have one power-play goal in 25 chances, a 4.0-percent success rate which also ranks 30th in the NHL. "Right now we're just looking to get through one kill," Quenneville said. "Every game's been a struggle, a battle in that area. Our confidence in that area is something we want to get back. Get through it and build off the momentum."

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Flames projected lineup

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

Blackhawks projected lineup

Tyler Motte -- Jonathan Toews -- Richard Panik
Artemi Panarin -- Artem Anisimov -- Patrick Kane
Ryan Hartman -- Nick Schmaltz -- Marian Hossa
Dennis Rasmussen -- Marcus Kruger -- Jordin Tootoo
Duncan Keith -- Brian Campbell
Niklas Hjalmarsson -- Brent Seabrook
Gustav Forsling -- Michal Rozsival
Corey Crawford
Scott Darling
Scratched: Michal Kempny, Vincent Hinostroza
Injured:Trevor van Riemsdyk (upper body), Andrew Desjardins (lower body)

Status report

Hinostroza will be a healthy scratch for the third straight game. … Schmaltz and Kruger have been interchangeable between the third and fourth lines. … The flip-flop of Frolik and Chiasson at right wing of the first and third lines is the only change to Calgary's lineup. Kulak will be scratched for a second straight game, Grossmann for the sixth straight.

Who's hot

Panik has goals in the past two games, and leads the NHL with six goals. … Anisimov has scored two goals in two of the past three games. … Versteeg had two goals against the Blues on Saturday.