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It was an important night at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
The Flames were hosting the Bruins Saturday evening, holding a COVID-delayed opportunity for the C of Red to finally celebrate Milan Lucic's 1,000th game, which came last season.
It was also Matthew Tkachuk's birthday.
And the team as a whole, of course, were first-and-foremost looking to get back in the win column.
They piled shots on net, created plenty of top-flight chances but, unfortunately, Boston spoiled the party.

Brendan Parker wrap's up tonight's loss to Bruins

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The visitors built up a 3-0 lead en route to a 4-2 victory.
It was Calgary's fourth straight loss, pointing them at 15-7-6.
The Flames now head out for a two-game U.S. road swing before returning home to play six of their final seven games of 2021 at home.
Tkachuk, who turned 24, scored, as did Sean Monahan, while Jacob Markstrom made 23 saves.
Lucic collected an assist on Monahan's tally.
The Flames held a significant edge in shots, with Linus Ullmark much busier while making 40 stops.
Calgary generated a lot of looks in the first period, finishing with a 15-7 edge in shots, with a 14-5 differential in scoring chances.
But they trailed 1-0 after 20.
Johnny Gaudreau was doing what he does best early in the frame - creating pressure in the offensive zone and setting up teammates for Grade-A chances - and one such possession led to Boston's Brad Marchand getting whistled for a hook on Tkachuk and giving the homeside their first powerplay.
It was shortlived, though. Just 17 seconds into the advantage, Monahan was called on a slash to create some four-on-four action.
Despite controlling the play, it was the Bruins who got on the board first late in the frame at 17:43 when Connor Clifton's shot from the right wing on a rush squeaked through Markstrom.
The Flames second man-up of the night came 1:55 into the middle stanza, and they got cracks at Ullmark via an Andrew Mangiapane shot, a one-handed rebound attempt by Lucic and a point-blank slot shot from Elias Lindholm. However, the Bruins goalie stopped all three.
Boston made it 2-0 at 5:22 when Marchand - with his back to Markstrom some 10-feet away - made a no-look tip of David Pastrnak's point shot that found twine.
Calgary made good on its third powerplay of the night.
Tkachuk - parked beside the blue paint - shovelled the puck home after a shot from Rasmus Andersson at 12:19. Gaudreau also picked up a helper.

BOS@CGY: Tkachuk scores PPG from the crease

Not long after Tkachuk made one of his patented, through-the-legs blind passes and Mangiapane was able to smack the puck out of the air but Ullmark juggled the puck it before eventually freezing the puck for a whistle.
Former Flame Curtis Lazar restored the three-goal lead for the visitors at the 2:57 mark of the third before Monahan tallied at 18:24, Andersson also getting another assist.

BOS@CGY: Lucic bounces puck off his teammate's skate

Lucic was feted during a first-period TV timeout with a video. His milestone came last season on the road against the Leafs and the Flames later had an in-game ceremony during a home outing - however, there no fans in attendance due to COVID.
He got the coveted silver stick from the team then - but not the chance to share the moment with fans.
This time around (technically in game 1,042 for him), there was a thunderous cheer, standing ovation and the now famous Loooooooooooch chant.

The C of Red salutes Milan Lucic

BY THE NUMBERS:

Shots: CGY 42, BOS 27
Powerplay:CGY 1-5, BOS 0-2
Hits:CGY 22, BOS 26
Face-offs: CGY 51%, BOS 49%
\Scoring chances: CGY 28, BOS 17
\
High-danger scoring chances:CGY 11, BOS 10
\According of Natural Stat Trick (5-on-5)*

ONE-TIMERS:

This is the second and final matchup this season between the Flames and Bruins this season. These two teams last played on Nov. 21 when the Flames won 4-0 ... The Flames are now 4-2-1 against the Metropolitan Division this season and 11-5-3 against Eastern Conference opponents ... Chris Tanev is two games away from 600 in his career ... Mangiapane would sure look good with a C stitched on his all-star jersey. Don't ya think?

Vote Mang is an All-Star Captain!

THE LINEUP:

Lines
Johnny Gaudreau - Elias Lindholm - Matthew Tkachuk
Blake Coleman - Mikael Backlund - Andrew Mangiapane
Milan Lucic - Sean Monahan - Dillon Dube
Brad Richardson - Adam Ruzicka - Trevor Lewis
Pairings
Oliver Kylington - Chris Tanev
Noah Hanifin - Rasmus Andersson
Nikita Zadorov - Erik Gudbranson
Goaltender
Jacob Markstrom - starter
Dan Vladar

UP NEXT:

The Flames head out on the road for a back-to-back, playing the Blackhawks Monday and the Predators Tuesday. They return to the Scotiabank Saddledome Thursday to host the Leafs.
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