Need to Know: Bruins vs. Flames

BOSTON - Jeremy Swayman, who remains undefeated (8-0-0) in his career at TD Garden, will make the start on Sunday night as the Bruins host the Calgary Flames. Boston will be aiming for its fourth consecutive victory.
Here's everything you need to know ahead of the 7 p.m. puck drop on NESN and 98.5 The Sports Hub:

Douse the Flames

The Flames are wrapping up a monster seven-game road trip, during which they've posted a 3-1-2 record. Like the B's, Calgary is on the second end of a back-to-back, having spoiled the Islanders' inaugural contest at the new UBS Arena on Saturday night with a 5-2 victory.
Calgary is second in the NHL in goals against, allowing just 2.00 goals per game.
"I expect they'll play a pretty typical Darryl Sutter type of game, not gonna be a ton of surprises," said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. "They're gonna be hard, they're gonna get to the front of the net, they're gonna protect the front of the net. They're gonna want to win the slot battle.
"I suspect they'll play behind our D early on, force us to break pucks out, play 200 feet. They're gonna manage it well between the blues. That's what I expect out of them. Will be a good game for us, kind of how we want to play."
Calgary is paced by stalwarts Johnny Gaudreau (7 goals, 14 assists in 18 games), Elias Lindholm (8 goals, 11 assists), and Mathew Tkachuk (8 goals, 7 assists) up front. Fifth-year winger Andrew Mangiapane, meanwhile, is on pace for a career season and leading the Flames with 14 goals 18 games, leaving him just four goals shy of his career-high set in 2020-21.
"Lindholm, Gaudreau, these are guys - Mangiapane - that can certainly create," said Cassidy. "Tkachuk will get to the net and be ornery, just like we have some guys that can create. In general, they're a strong defensive team, play sound in front of their goaltender. We like to think we play that way as well. Should be a good challenge in that regard."
The Flames rely heavily on goaltender Jacob Markstrom, who picked up the win on Long Island to improve to 7-3-4 with a 1.71 goals against average and .942 save percentage this season. Old friend Daniel Vladar, who was traded to the Flames in July and is 3-0-1 with a 1.96 GAA and .933 save percentage, could get the start on Sunday in the second end of the back-to-back.
"I'm happy it's going well for him," Cassidy said of Vladar, who spent the first five years of his professional career in Boston. "He was a good Bruin, worked hard. A couple of tough injuries that limited his time in Providence more than anything. Came over here at a young age. Great kid. Him and Swayman, equally hard-working kids.
"Played some good games for us. I'm happy for him. I hope our guy outplays him tonight, don't get me wrong. But I've got nothing bad to say about Vladdy. He's a good pro. He's well-liked in the room. He's got some talent.
"I think he's in a good spot behind a guy like Markstrom that plays a lot so he can sort of learn his craft at the NHL level without being forced to be the guy. Good for him. I'm sure Sway's gonna want to put his best foot forward against him. Should be a good battle of young goalies."

Finding His Groove

Jakub Zboril will suit up for his fourth straight contest as he begins to find a groove as a regular piece of Boston's back end. The 24-year-old blue liner has impressed Cassidy with his commitment to a higher compete level, as well as his transition play through the neutral zone. Zboril picked up his second assist in as many games on Saturday night with the primary helper on David Pastrnak's third-period insurance marker.
"Better compete level is when I noticed he's dialed in, a little more urgency in his 1-on-1 battles," said Cassidy. "You don't lose you hockey sense and your ability to make plays. You lose your confidence to make them and when to make them. If you don't play for a while, you lose your edge, which we certainly expect for guys that are in and out.
"But I just find that he's more competitive in his corner battles, net-front battles, urgency to get back on pucks, all the little things that make you a good pro. Every time you're over the boards, you're ready to play. There's no easy shifts."

Wait, There's More

• Cassidy was pleased with Mike Reilly, who was a plus-3 during a solid return to the lineup in Philadelphia after having sat out the previous two games as a healthy scratch: "I thought he had a good response," said Boston's bench boss. "He was more on his toes, trying to get the puck up ice, not slowing the game down…we're trying to do that as a team in general…he was part of that."
• Brad Marchand carries an eight-game point streak (four goals, nine assists) into Sunday's contest. The winger, who leads Boston with 20 points, has been held scoreless in just two games this season.

Sunday's Projected Lineup

FORWARDS
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak
Taylor Hall - Charlie Coyle - Nick Foligno
Jake DeBrusk - Erik Haula - Craig Smith
Anton Blidh - Tomas Nosek - Curtis Lazar
DEFENSEMEN
Derek Forbort - Charlie McAvoy
Matt Grzelcyk - Brandon Carlo
Mike Reilly - Jakub Zboril
GOALIES
Jeremy Swayman
Linus Ullmark