Calgary Flames vs Boston Bruins Picks and Predictions December 17th 2024

Bruins Looking to Build Momentum Against Flames

The Boston Bruins continue their five-game Western Conference swing on Tuesday night, facing the Calgary Flames fresh off confidence-boosting wins for both teams. With Boston finding their offensive spark and Calgary tightening up defensively, this matchup promises intrigue on both sides of the ice.

Bruins’ Offense Awakens in Vancouver

After back-to-back losses to Winnipeg and Seattle, the Bruins roared back with a decisive 5-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday. It was only the fifth time this season Boston scored more than four goals in a game, a much-needed breakthrough for a team struggling to generate consistent offense.

Star winger David Pastrnak led the way, assisting on three goals and finally finding the back of the net himself in the third period. While Pastrnak is known for his goal-scoring prowess, he admitted that this season has been a bit of a challenge.

“Yeah, I’m a goal scorer, but so far I haven’t been this year,” Pastrnak said. “And we were struggling on the power play. It’s been coming (over) the last three or four games. It’s for sure going to be better.”

The Bruins’ power play is showing signs of life, scoring in four of their last six games after a four-game drought. Captain Brad Marchand, who’s riding a six-game point streak, has been a major part of that resurgence.

New Addition: Wahlstrom Adds Firepower

Boston’s lineup gained a fresh face with the addition of Oliver Wahlstrom, a 24-year-old forward claimed off waivers from the New York Islanders. Known for his lethal shot, Wahlstrom is eager to make an impact with his new team.

Bruins forward Marc McLaughlin, a former teammate of Wahlstrom at Boston College, praised the addition:

“(His shot is) lethal. Everyone knows that… The more he can get that off and play his game that way, I think he’s going to be great.”

Interim coach Joe Sacco sees Wahlstrom’s arrival as a clean slate for the young forward.

“I think he’s looking at it like a new opportunity, just like most players would,” Sacco said.

Flames Bounce Back After Rough Stretch

The Calgary Flames come into this game riding the momentum of a 3-0 shutout win over the Florida Panthers on Saturday. The victory marked a strong response after an embarrassing 8-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning just two nights earlier.

Flames captain Mikael Backlund was a key contributor, ending his 15-game goal drought with a tally and an assist. Forward Nazem Kadri, meanwhile, stayed hot with goals in three straight games.

“It was the response we wanted and needed,” Backlund said.

Dustin Wolf was brilliant in net, making 32 saves for his second shutout of the season and his young career. It was a much-needed bounce-back performance for the 23-year-old goalie, who had allowed four or more goals in each of his previous three starts.

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Coach Ryan Huska, however, placed more blame on the team’s defensive lapses than on Wolf’s play during that rough stretch.

“For us, everybody goes through a stretch or two like that… Even the games where we got beat and he gave up some goals, I didn’t think he was poor. I just didn’t think the game was as good in front of him,” Huska said.

Flames’ Home Dominance a Factor

Calgary’s strong home record (11-4-1) has been a bright spot this season, and their ability to shut opponents down has been key—they’ve won four home games via shutout. Forward Connor Zary emphasized the team’s focus on structure as the key to their success.

“It doesn’t matter who we’re playing and what the other team is doing as long as we’re playing to our structure,” Zary said.

Key Matchup: Pastrnak vs. Flames’ Defense

Boston’s offensive resurgence, led by Pastrnak and Marchand, will be tested against a Calgary team that can frustrate opponents with its disciplined defensive structure. The Flames will lean on their improving goaltending and the energy of their home crowd to slow down the Bruins’ attack.

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Meanwhile, Boston will look to continue their power play momentum and take advantage of any opportunities Calgary gives them. Wahlstrom’s addition could also give the Bruins a spark, especially if he gets opportunities to unleash his heavy shot.

The Road Ahead

Both teams enter this matchup with something to prove: the Bruins are aiming to sustain their offensive momentum, while the Flames are looking to build on their bounce-back win and maintain their dominance at home.

For Boston, a victory would further solidify their rhythm on this long road trip. For Calgary, another strong showing could signal that they’ve turned a corner after a tough stretch.

Tuesday night’s clash will be a battle of momentum—who will keep theirs rolling?