Calgary Flames Season Chatter 22/23

[thegx.ca]

What an embarrassment losing to the worst team in the league...

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 42

 

Flames 3 Blueds 4

 

FLAMES FALL TO BLUES

Blues rally from 3-1 deficit to top Flames in overtime

by RYAN DITTRICK @ryandittrick / CalgaryFlames.com

 12:14 AM

•  

Milan Lucic, Mikael Backlund and Andrew Mangiapane scored for the Flames, while Jacob Markstrom made 23 saves.

 

These two teams will do battle again on Thursday right back at the Enterprise Center.

 

"It obviously sucks," Nazem Kadri said afterward. "That's not the way we wanted to end the game. To be quite honest, I thought we played a pretty solid road game. Had a lapse of five minutes and the good players don't need many chances to score and they made us pay.

 

"Got to learn from it."

 

Mangiapane - whose line, along with Backlund and Blake Coleman, finished with dominant possession and chance metrics - said the Blues came in waves.

 

"I think we sat back in the third," he said. "We didn't really do much. We sat back and they took it over from there.

 

"It's tough, right? I thought we were playing a decent game up until that point, but we kind of let it slip. We've got to learn from it and come back stronger against these guys next game. ... A lot of guys were saying it's like a playoff series, right? Lose this one and now we've got to even it up and win the next one here."

 

The Blues opened the scoring with a powerplay goal at 3:49. It was a bit of a broken play off the rush, with three of the four Flames defenders collapsing to one side of the side and opening up a lane off the rush. With a clear path to the net, Pavel Buchnevich looked for Robert Thomas for the easy, back-door tap-in, but his feed deflected off the stickoff Chris Tanev and past Markstrom for the icebreaker.

 

The Flames evened things up at 15:44, and what a beauty it was. With boos raining down - a callback to last year's heated playoff battle between the Blues and Avalanche - Kadri carried the puck down the left side, before feathering a scrumptious goalmouth feed to Lucic, who drove hard to the net and swatted it past Jordan Binnington.

 

Kadri, you may recall, has a playful history in this town that traces back to Game 3 of the Second Round last year when he collided with St. Louis goalie Jordan Binnington. It was an accident, but the Blues didn't see it that way. From a water bottle being chucked his way in a postgame interview, to the excessive, if not dangerous antics in Game 4 of that series, Kadri let his play to the talking by ignoring the vicious cross-checks and securing his first-career playoff hat-trick to quiet the critics and lead his team deeper into the spring.

 

In a game billed as an emotional playoff precursor, it's only fitting that one of the most legendary storylines in postseason lore was brought back to the forefront.

 

And Kadri would want it no other way.

 

"Yeah, I figured they wouldn't (forget)," Kadri said with a smile. "It's all good. I love seeing the fans engaged in the game and that's part of professional sports."

 

The Flames then grabbed their first lead less than two minutes later, with some considerable zone time wearing out the Blues and allowing the visitors to get a partial change in. On came Backlund in place of Kadri and after establishing good body position and taking away the eyes of the netminder, No. 11 tipped home the Nikita Zadorov point shot to make it a 2-1 game.

 

Richly deserved.

 

Shots on goal favoured the Flames 13-9 after one.

 

The Flames grabbed a 3-1 lead at 1:02 of the second when Mangiapane tallied his eighth of the season, going skate-to-stick and burying it upstairs over the glove.

 

A pinching Noah Hanifin made a great feed from behind the net to make it all possible, and Blake Coleman - who's been on something of a tear lately - checked in with the second assist.

The boos, by the way, seemed to pick up steam in the second, but it didn't stop Kadri from making things happen offensively.

 

MacKenzie Weegar nearly extended the lead with a snapper off the far post only moments later, and Tyler Toffoli rang one off the crossbar on a late-period powerplay as the Flames continued to lean on their opponents.

 

For those keeping score, that's now the fourth crossbar that Toffoli has hit this year, putting him into a tie for the league 'lead' in that category. He's also hit five posts.

 

The Blues got some life early in the third when Markstrom mishandled a Santini shot from the near wall, allowing Nikita Alexandrov to swoop in and casually clean up the rebound. Then, just 28 seconds later, Kyrou sent a ripper from the high slot over the glove and all of a sudden, it was a 3-3 game.

 

With the crowd still in a buzz, Thomas converted a one-time feed from Pavel Buchnevich, but wait... The Flames challenged for offside, and the video showed Kyrou losing the handle as he entered the zone, wiping the fourth Blues goal off the board.

 

The Flames were out-shot 8-6 in the third before Thomas ended it on the only attempt in overtime.

 

"Ideally, you have a two-goal lead in the third period, you should win the game," Kadri explained. "But like I said, I don't think we gave up a whole lot and they have some great players over there that take advantage of opportunities. Played 55 good minutes tonight.

 

"Not enough for 60."

[thegx.ca]

Man I gotta blame Markstrom for this loss he gotta save that snipe from Kyrou from near the blue line even though it is a Kyrou laser...and the tying goal he gave up that rebound...can't blame him for the overtime goal but including the disallowed goal that's 5 he gave up tonight

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 43

 

Flames 4 Blues 1

 

Flames' Duehr 1st player from South Dakota to score in NHL

 

 

0:38

 

Dillon Dube puts the Flames back in front

Dillon Dube puts the Flames back in front

---

ByAP

Updated: 5 hours ago

 

ST. LOUIS -- — Walker Duehr made history with his first career NHL goal.

 

Duehr’s first goal for Calgary on Thursday night broke a scoreless tie in the second period, and the 23-year-old winger who was born in Sioux Falls became the first South Dakota-born player to score in the NHL.

 

“This shows that anybody who puts their head down and goes to work can achieve pretty great things,” Duehr said.

 

Dillon Dube scored twice in the third period and Dan Vladar made 25 saves, helping the Flames to a 4-1 win over the St. Louis Blues.

 

Dube broke a 1-all tie, scoring with 9:10 left in regulation and added an empty-netter in the final minutes. Blake Coleman pushed the lead to 3-1 with his eighth goal of the season with 3:56 left.

 

Calgary has recorded points in 16 of its last 19 games.

 

Duehr took a pass from Nazem Kadri late in the second period and wristed a shot past goalie Thomas Greiss, who had stopped 61 successive shots over his last three games. Nazem Kadri set up the goal with a pinpoint pass on a 2-on-1 breakout.

 

Calgary coach Darryl Sutter got a thrill out of seeing, Duehr get his first goal.

 

“Good for the young man," Sutter said. “It's awesome. Everybody always remembers their first.”

 

Maybe not Duehr.

 

“I think I blacked out,' Duehr said. ”It was a pretty cool feeling. Something you dream about."

 

Duehr was called up over the weekend and made the second start of his career on Tuesday. He played in one game for the Flames in 2021.

 

“It was special to see the grin on his face,” Dube said. “I train with him and I know him pretty well. I'm happy for him. It's a special night for sure. You enjoy it when someone does that. It was awesome, especially a big goal like that."

 

Duehr's goal seemed to ignite his teammates. Calgary scored three third-period goals in a span of 5:49.

 

Vladar, who wears No. 80, improved to 7-4-4 this season.

 

Jake Neighbours scored for St. Louis, which had won eight of its last nine against the Flames, including a 4-3 overtime decision on Tuesday.

 

Dube picked up a loose puck in the slot and broke a 1-all tie with his eighth goal of the season. He scored into an empty net with 3:21 left.

 

“We played a full 60 (minutes,)” Dube said.

 

Kadri was booed throughout the game. Last year, as a member of the Colorado Avalanche, he collided with St. Louis goalie Jordan Binnington in Game 3 of a second-round playoff series and ended Binnington’s season.

 

The Blues are without Vladimir Tarasenko (hand) and Ryan O’Reilly (foot) for four to six weeks.

 

Greiss made 36 saves and kept his team in the game over the first three periods.

 

“He was phenomenal tonight,” Neighbours said. “It's a little frustrating.”

 

SIGHTSEEING

 

Calgary coach Darryl Sutter and his staff went to see the Budweiser Clydesdale horses on a day off in downtown St. Louis on Wednesday.

 

[thegx.ca]

Calgary dominated the game these lines really are working well defensively most importantly

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 44

 

Flames 6 Stars 5

 

Flames score 4 goals in 2nd period, hold off Stars 6-5

•  

DALLAS (AP) Nazem Kadri's team-best 17th goal and Chris Tanev's first of the season were part of Calgary's four-goal second period as the Flames hung on to beat the Dallas Stars 6-5 on Saturday.

Andrew Mangiapane scored just 25 seconds into the game and Trevor Lewis, Elias Lindholm and Rasmus Andersson also had goals for the Flames. Calgary led 6-1 late in the second period and has earned points in it last five games (3-0-2).

Dan Vladar made 29 saves to win his second straight start in a matchup of backup goaltenders. The Flames hold the first wild-card position in the West.

Joe Pavelski had two goals and an assist for the Stars, who are winless in two straight and four of their last six games. Tyler Seguin had a goal and an assist and Jamie Benn and Colin Miller also scored for Dallas. Scott Wedgewood made 30 saves in his 13th start of the season.

The Stars and Winnipeg Jets are tied with the most points in the Central Division (57), the Jets having one game in hand.

Flames coach Darryl Sutter said he didn't become anxious as the lead decreased from five goals to one.

"Anxious means you're scared - you don't know what you're doing," Sutter said.

Seguin began the Stars' rally, scoring from the slot with 46 seconds remaining in the second period. Pavelski scored at 7:19 and 12:54 of the third, and Miller cut the deficit to one at 15:23.

"The second period gets away from us; that's the disappointment on the night," Pavelski said. "It was fun at having a shot at tying it up again, but it's a big hole."

Lewis and Lindholm scored on the power play to match the team high for power-play goals this season after the Flames were shut out with the man advantage in five of their previous six games.

The six goals allowed matched the most this season by Dallas, which went into play second in the NHL with a 2.55 goals-against average.

"It definitely wasn't Wedgy's fault," Dallas coach Pete DeBoer said. "Just didn't play well enough for long enough."

Kadri, Tanev and Andersson also had an assist.

Kadri's goal at 13:07 through traffic from 35 feet for a 4-1 lead was unsuccessfully challenged by Dallas for being offside. Tanev's drive from the right point was Calgary's last of the period, at 17:57, giving the Flames a 6-1 lead.

Mangiapane scored only 25 seconds in on the game's first shot on goal, a backhander at the crease on a pass by Blake Coleman from behind the goal line that ricocheted off Mikael Backlund.

STILL HAS IT

Lewis, Calgary's 36-year-old fourth-line center, has eight goals in his 15th NHL season. He's on pace to pass his season-best 14 scored with the Los Angeles Kings in 2017-18. It was his third career power-play goal.

"And we've put him in situations where he's playing with kids," Sutter said.

 

[thegx.ca]

Jeez they played so well this game and almost blew it at the end haha...

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 45

 

Flames 1 Preds2

 

Saros makes 38 saves for Predators in win against Flames

Goalie stops 21 in 3rd period; Calgary goes 0-for-4 on power play

by John Glennon / NHL.com Independent Correspondent

 12:11 AM

•  

 

 

 

NASHVILLE -- Juuse Saros made 38 saves, including 21 in the third period, and the Nashville Predators ended a three-game losing streak with a 2-1 win against the Calgary Flames at Bridgestone Arena on Monday.

 

Roman Josi and Juuso Parssinen scored for the Predators (20-17-6), who complete a three-game homestand Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

"It was huge," said Josi, the Nashville captain. "Just when you look at the standings, [the Flames] are obviously in front of us, a couple points, and it was a big game for us too. Kind of a four-point game, so it was definitely a big win for us."

 

 

Nikita Zadorov scored, and Jacob Markstrom made 27 saves for the Flames (21-15-9), who went 0-for-4 on the power play and finished 2-1-2 on a five-game road trip.

 

"It was a pathetic effort by us the first two periods for sure," Zadorov said. "We were a step behind. The energy wasn't there, the commitment wasn't there, we weren't shooting. We were making bad plays, giving up too many chances, so I think it was just an all-around bad effort for us in the first two periods."

 

Calgary nearly tied it 2-2 on a power play at 3:58 of the third when Tyler Toffoli knocked in the rebound of Nazem Kadri's shot, but video review determined Toffoli kicked the puck into the net.

 

"Obviously we're saying it's a goal and [the Predators are] happy it's not, but it could be the other way," Flames coach Darryl Sutter said. "On the ice, it's called a goal, so generally that kind of overrides. It's not like Tyler was kicking. A distinct kicking motion is stand up and make a distinct kicking motion."

 

Josi gave Nashville a 1-0 lead at 8:26 of the first period. He fired a slap shot from the blue line that bounced in off Zadorov, who was tangled with Predators forward Cody Glass at the side of the net.

"I thought the first [period] was really good," Josi said. "I felt like we had a lot of chances. They didn't get much."

 

Parssinen made it 2-0 at 14:24 when he stuffed in a loose puck after Markstrom was unable to cover it in the crease.

 

The goal extended Parssinen's point streak to seven games (two goals, seven assists), which tied the Predators' rookie record set by Filip Forsberg during the 2014-15 season.

 

"That's a sign of good things to come, right, when you're able to do that," Nashville coach John Hynes said. "That's what we've talked about with [Parssinen] for a while. He's got a really strong game. He's a mentally tough kid. I think he's got the physical ability to play at this level night in and night out.

 

"He's done a really good job. That's good to see, a good, young player with good offensive instincts and good offensive upside."

 

Zadorov cut it to 2-1 at 18:07 of the second period. He took a centering pass from Mikael Backlund and beat Saros with a wrist shot from the slot.

 

Calgary outshot Nashville 21-5 in the third, when the Predators killed three penalties.

 

"[Saros] was huge," Josi said. "It doesn't matter how we play. He always keeps us in games. We're always in a game. If we do a good job in front of him, playing good defensively, we have a really good chance to win any game with him in there."

[thegx.ca]

Not enough grit in this game we got outhit and out muscled...

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 46

 

Flames 1 Avs 4

 

 

 

Lehkonen, Rantanen score 2 apiece in Avalanche win against Flames

Georgiev makes 34 saves, MacKinnon has 2 assists for 4th game in row

by Aaron Vickers / NHL.com Independent Correspondent

 1:55 AM

CALGARY -- Artturi Lehkonen and Mikko Rantanen each scored two goals, and the Colorado Avalanche won 4-1 against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome on Wednesday.

Nathan MacKinnon had two assists for the fourth consecutive game, and Devon Toews and J.T. Compher also had two assists apiece for the Avalanche (23-17-3), who have won three straight. Alexandar Georgiev made 34 saves.

 

"We're playing so confident and it's definitely a different game defensively," said Georgiev, who made his first start since Jan. 10. "We play sharp. Great. We've got to keep it going like that."

Defenseman Cale Makar did not play because of an undisclosed injury. Colorado played with 11 forwards and seven defensemen.

 

"It's big. It's obviously impossible to replace Cale, the best [defenseman] in the world," said Rantanen, who also had an assist. "I think we came together as a team. Just got to defend, that's what we have to focus on. The goals are going to come."

 

Tyler Toffoli scored, and Jacob Markstrom made 27 saves for the Flames (21-16-9), who have lost two in a row and are 2-2-2 in their past six games.

 

"We've played 46 games now and we're still looking for a really good game," Calgary center Elias Lindholm said. "It's concerning."

 

Rantanen gave the Avalanche a 1-0 lead at 6:17 of the first period with his 30th goal of the season, a one-timer from the top of the right face-off circle.

 

"That's what we have to do more," Rantanen said. "Just be ready to play right away from the start of the puck [drop] so if the opposing team is not on their toes we can take advantage and that's what we did."

 

Lehkonen finished a cross-crease pass from MacKinnon on a 2-on-1 at 11:01 to make it 2-0. He scored 1:57 later to extend it to 3-0 with a power-play goal after a point shot by MacKinnon went off Rantanen and the end boards to him at the left post at 12:58.

 

"Obviously, we didn't come out ready to go and they did," Toffoli said. "They were faster in all areas of the ice -- skating, passing, and everything. We were trying to find our way back into the game, but they're the defending [Stanley Cup] champions for a reason."

 

Toffoli shot through a screen by Lindholm from the top of the left circle on a power play to cut it to 3-1 at 2:27 of the third period.

Colorado was outshot 13-4 in the third.

 

Georgiev made a save on Blake Coleman at the edge of the crease at 8:52 before stopping him again on a partial breakaway after he split the Avalanche defense at 9:24. Georgiev also made a glove save on a backhand by Trevor Lewis in the slot at 11:47.

 

"Really good," Rantanen said. "They were pushing hard. We gave up some chances, but [Georgiev] was calm and cool in the net. Really, really good performance by him."

Rantanen was awarded a goal at 19:02 after he was slashed on a breakaway by Flames defenseman Nikita Zadorov with Markstrom pulled for an extra attacker for the 4-1 final.

 

"Honestly, when you come out like that in the first against the champs, it's not gonna work very well," Lindholm said. "You can't expect to win when you play like that. So, obviously, that first period set the whole game up."

 

 

Rantanen has 31 goals in 43 games, the fewest needed to reach 30 goals in franchise history since it moved to Colorado from Quebec. Joe Sakic previously held the record set in 1995-96.

 

"[Sakic] still has two [Stanley] Cups, I guess that's the difference," said Rantanen, who won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche last season. "[It's an] honor, obviously, but linemates, that's what I always say, we cannot do it alone, linemates are helping me a lot."

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 47

 

Flames 6 Bolts 3

 

Andersson's 3-point game helps Flames past Lightning 6-3

 

 

0:37

 

Blake Coleman nets goal vs. Lightning

Blake Coleman nets goal vs. Lightning

---

ByAP

Updated: 8 hours ago

 

CALGARY, Alberta -- — Rasmus Andersson had a goal and two assists to lead the Calgary Flames to a 6-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.

 

Nazem Kadri, Tyler Toffoli, Dillon Dube, Jonathan Huberdeau and Blake Coleman also scored for Calgary (22-16-9).

 

“We were ready to play,” said Andersson, who scored his seventh of the season. “I think our first period, we were really good and even when they got up 2-1, we bounced back pretty quick.”

 

Steven Stamkos, Vladislav Namestikov and Anthony Cirelli scored for Tampa Bay (29-15-1), which dropped both games in Alberta to finish 3-2-0 on longest trip of the season.

 

“It’s just frustrating. You go on a five-game trip out West, bunch of different times zone, and you start out 3-0 and to drop these games,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “Especially when we had a tie game going into the third against Edmonton, we had a 2-1 lead in this one even though we probably didn’t deserve it, and to drop them both without getting any points, that’s probably not our style.”

 

Dan Vladar got the start for Calgary and finished with 21 saves to improve to 8-0-3 in his last 11 appearances. His last regulation loss was Nov. 26, and he is 9-4-4 this season.

 

Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 35 shots and slipped to 20-12-1 on the season.

 

“I thought we battled. Too many penalties, including myself taking a bad one,” Cirelli said. “Too many turnovers fueling their rush, which ultimately led to the loss.”

 

Down 2-1 in the second period, Tampa Bay got goals 48 seconds apart from Stamkos and Namestikov to take a short-lived lead.

 

About a minute later, Calgary tied it when Toffoli’s wraparound went in off Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman’s skate.

 

Five minutes later Calgary, went ahead 3-2 when Andersson’s slap shot from the point deflected off Hedman in front and past Vasilevskiy.

 

“We responded really well after their second goal,” Andersson said. “I’m proud of the guys. We bounced back quick and then once we got the lead, we played really well.”

 

Calgary moved out to a 4-2 lead 7:40 into the third when Dube burst down the left wing and scored.

 

“It was a battle out there right from the puck drop and they don’t quit,” Dube said. “They try and push you out of the rink and play hard. It was a fun game, these feel like playoff games.”

 

The Lightning cut the deficit to 4-3 on Cirelli’s goal with the goalie pulled at 15:58. The Flames cemented the victory scoring twice into an empty net.

 

The Flames led 1-0 after 20 minutes when Kadri scored his team-leading 18th on a power play.

 

Less than a minute later, the Flames went back on the power play, a full two-minute, two-man advantage after Zach Bogosian took a roughing penalty in a post-whistle scrum after Nikita Kucherov had already been called for tripping.

 

Calgary had plenty of chances for a two-goal lead but the Flames failed to convert. The Lightning tied it at 10:20 of the second.

 

Noah Hanifin’s turnover went to Stamkos at the faceoff circle and he scored on a slap shot under the crossbar. That extended Stamkos’ point streak to eight games (six goals, six assists).

 

The Lightning surged ahead when Vladar tried to poke the puck away in front. Instead, it hit Namestnikov’s skate and went into the net. It stood up after being reviewed.

 

The Lightning lost Pat Maroon to an injury in the third. He was involved in a collision in front of the Flames net and went off appearing to be favor his arm.

 

PELLETIER DEBUT

 

After sitting for six games as a healthy scratch since being called up two weeks ago from the AHL, Flames 2019 first-round pick Jakob Pelletier made his NHL debut, playing left wing on a line with Trevor Lewis at center and rookie Walker Duehr on right wing. He finished with one shot in his 6:35 of ice time.

[thegx.ca]

Took Lucic to beat someone up for Calgary to win again hahaha...well we didn't get outmuscled today hahaha...

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 48

 

Flames 4 CBJ 3 OT

 

Dube scores in OT, Flames beat Blue Jackets 4-3

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) Dillon Dube scored at 2:25 of overtime to give the Calgary Flames a 4-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night.

Andrew Mangiapane had a goal and two assists, and Nazem Kadri and Walker Duehr also scored for the Flames. Dan Vladar stopped 22 shots to improve to 10-4-4 this season.

Patrik Laine had a goal and two assists, and Boone Jenner and Kirill Marchenko also scored for Columbus. Johnny Gaudreau had two assists in his return to Calgary for the first time since leaving as a free agent last summer. Joonas Korpisalo finished with 45 saves.

In the extra period, Dube got a cross-ice pass from Mangiapane on a 2-on-1 and fired a one timer past Korpisalo for his 12th of the season to give Calgary the win after they gave up leads of 2-0 and 3-2.

"A character win tonight," Kadri said. "We find a way to hang in there and fight off some adversity. (We) had a lot of opportunities, and for the most part played a pretty solid game. That's always good to see."

Gaudreau, who is fifth all-time in Flames history with 609 points, was greeted by boos and derisive chants of "John-ny" the moment he stepped on the ice.'

"We knew it was going to be that kind of environment. Johnny had an excellent game," Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said. "The guys battled. We had some puck management issues, no question."

Gaudreau was awarded a penalty shot five minutes into the opening period when Calgary defenseman MacKenzie Weegar hooked him on a breakaway. A wave of boos followed Gaudreau's approach to the Flames' net, and intensified when he shot the puck high attempting to pick the net's top corner.

A video tribute minutes later brought many in the crowd to their feet to acknowledge his eight seasons of Flames' service, but that goodwill was short-lived.

"I think that just shows how good of a player he was and how important he was for this organization, because you don't get a reaction like that if you're not that important," Dube said.

Jenner tied the score 3-3 at 4:34 of the third as he got a pass from Laine, skated into the left circle on a 2-on-1 with Gaudreau and a fired a shot that beat Vladar for his 13th.

Duehr got the Flames on the scoreboard with 3:42 left in the first as his one-timer from just above the faceoff dot deflected off the inside of Korpisalo's pad and in so fast that it was unclear where the puck was until officials fished it from inside the net. It was Duehr's second goal in six games since he was called up from the AHL on Jan. 7.

Kadri made it 2-0 at 1:32 of the second. After a turnover by the Blue Jackets, Kadri spun in the slot and wired the puck over Korpisalo's right arm for his team-leading 19th.

Marchenko got Columbus on the board, ripping Gaudreau's cross-ice pass over Vladar's glove at 9:04 while Dube served a tripping penalty. It was Marchenko's 10th.

With Kadri serving a delay-of-game penalty, Gaudreau feathered the puck across to Laine, who dropped to his knee to squeeze a shot by Vladar at 9:53 for his 14th to tie it 2-2.

Mangiapane put the Flames back ahead with 3:43 left in the second. The Blue Jackets turned the puck over behind their own net and Mikael Backlund fed Mangiapane in the slot and he spun and beat Korpisalo glove side for his 10th.

VALUABLE VLADAR

The Flames have earned at least a point in Vladar's last 12 starts, with a 9-0-3 record since Nov. 29. That's the longest active point streak this season among NHL goalies.

[thegx.ca]

ANOTHER DAY ANOTHER GUY BEATEN UP BY LUCIC AND ANOTHER CALGARY WIN

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 49

 

Flames 1 Hawks 5

 

Stauber wins again, Blackhawks beat Flames 5-1

 

---

ByAP

Updated: 4 hours ago

 

CALGARY, Alberta -- — Two games into his NHL career, Blackhawks rookie goaltender Jaxson Stauber is playing like a poised veteran.

 

Stauber stopped 34 shots for his second consecutive win and 13 players contributed a point as Chicago beat the Calgary Flames 5-1 Thursday night.

 

“Looks really solid and calm in there,” Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson said. “They’re a big team and they get to the net and they’re trying to get secondary chances. He just makes a save and even if there’s some scrambling going on, he doesn’t look scrambly.”

 

Taylor Raddysh, Boris Katchouk, Jason Dickinson, Sam Lafferty and Connor Murphy scored for the Blackhawks (15-28-4), who entered last in the NHL standings. Max Domi had an assist, extending his point streak to four games.

 

Jonathan Huberdeau scored for the Flames (23-17-9), sitting outside a playoff spot in the Western Conference after winning the Pacific Division last year.

 

Jacob Markstrom made 24 saves for Calgary. Winless in his last four decisions (0-3-1), he fell to 13-13-5 overall. It was the 10th time this season Markstrom received no more than one goal of support.

 

“Obviously, it’s unacceptable,” Huberdeau said. “The way we came out and the way we played, too many odd-man rushes. They had so many chances. I feel bad for (Markstrom) because he’s been playing (well) lately and we’re not playing good in front of him.”

 

With goalie Alex Stalock sidelined by a concussion, Stauber and veteran Petr Mrazek are left to tend the net for Chicago. Stauber made his NHL debut Saturday in a 5-3 win at St. Louis.

 

“He’s had two really good showings here. Hopefully he just gets more comfortable as he goes,” Richardson said.

 

Stauber is in his first professional season after signing as a free agent last March. The undrafted 23-year-old played the previous two years at Providence College and began this season with Rockford of the AHL.

 

Stauber is the son of former NHL goalie Robb Stauber, the 1988 Hobey Baker Award winner with Minnesota as college hockey's top player.

 

“He was calm, cool, collected. He’s been like that ever since he got called up,” Chicago forward Colin Blackwell said. “You can tell he’s just locked in all the time. His routine from right when he gets on the bus, he’s pretty dialed in.”

 

The game was tied 1-all after 20 minutes, but the Blackhawks seized control in the second period with three unanswered goals.

 

Katchouk one-timed a pass from Luke Philp at 9:39 past Markstrom, who was screened.

 

Chicago made it a two-goal lead at 15:37 when Flames defensemen Nikita Zadorov and MacKenzie Weeger both went to Patrick Kane, leaving the middle of the ice open. Kane’s pass sent Dickenson in alone and he beat Markstrom over his shoulder.

 

Just 30 seconds later, another defensive miscue by the Flames resulted in a 2-on-1 rush, with Blackwell setting up Lafferty for his eighth goal of the season.

 

The Flames outshot Chicago 18-6 in the third, but couldn’t beat Stauber. Murphy scored for the Blackhawks into an empty net.

 

The scattered booing from disgruntled fans throughout the period was at its loudest at the final buzzer as Calgary players left the ice.

 

“We made some glaring errors on the back end that cost us goals against,” Flames coach Darryl Sutter said. “You’ve got some defensemen that even though they’re younger guys, they also have to take some leadership in it, too, in terms of direction and poise.”

 

TOEWS AND TANEV OUT

 

Both teams were without key players. Calgary defenseman Chris Tanev (upper body) was out. His spot was taken by Connor Mackey, a healthy scratch the last 16 games.

 

Chicago was minus captain Jonathan Toews (non-COVID-19 illness). Philp was inserted into the lineup and got his first NHL point.

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 50

 

Flames 5 Seattle 2

 

Flames rebound with impressive 5-2 win over Kraken

 

 

 

---

ByAP

Updated: 3 hours ago

 

SEATTLE -- — Tyler Toffoli and the Calgary Flames rebounded from one of their ugliest losses of the season and picked up an important two points in the Pacific Division before starting the All-Star break.

 

Toffoli, Elias Lindholm and Blake Coleman each had a goal and two assists, and the Flames topped the Seattle Kraken 5-2 on Friday night.

 

Calgary bounced back impressively after getting surprisingly routed at home a day earlier in a 5-1 setback to lowly Chicago. The Flames topped the Kraken for the second straight time in Seattle, took two of three in the season series and headed into their break on a high note.

 

“We talked about it the past two games," Toffoli said. “Obviously we let the Chicago game slip, but overall tonight was obviously a really important match and we did a really good job."

 

Lindholm deflected a pass from Toffoli at 7:16 of the first period for his 15th goal to pull Calgary even after Seattle took an early lead.

 

Toffoli’s 18th goal at 13:28 gave Calgary a 2-1 lead, and Nikita Zadorov scored with 4.5 seconds left in the first period to give the Flames a 3-1 advantage.

 

Noah Hanifin scored his fourth of the season with 8:20 remaining in the third period after Seattle had pulled within 3-2, and Coleman added an empty-net goal with 1:20 left.

 

Dan Vladar made 29 saves and won his fifth straight start. Calgary is 10-0-3 in Vladar's last 13 appearances, tying a club record for longest point streak by a goaltender, joining Mike Vernon (1988-89) and Brian Elliott (2016-17).

 

Recent AHL callup John Hayden gave Seattle a 1-0 lead by redirecting Will Borgen’s shot from the point early in the first period. But the Kraken seemed a step slow all night and failed to capitalize on numerous opportunities with an extra attacker. Seattle was a season-worst 0 for 6 on the power play.

 

“I kind of feel comfortable in those situations because I know I'm going to get some action. I didn't get much the first 40 minutes so I was kind of looking forward to it,” Vladar said of Seattle's power plays.

 

Seattle appeared to pull within 3-2 with 11:01 left on Alex Wennberg’s power-play goal, but Calgary challenged for goaltender interference and the goal was overturned. The Kraken did eventually get that goal when Eeli Tolvanen scored on a rebound with 9:24 remaining, but Hanifin answered 64 seconds later.

 

Martin Jones made 33 saves, but the Kraken lost for the second time in three games and missed an opportunity to move into sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division.

 

Seattle coach Dave Hakstol said “we weren't very good.”

 

“Our group wasn't good, especially the middle portion of the game we had no energy," Hakstol said. “And that's top to bottom. That's all of us."

 

Seattle is also seeing injuries start to impact its lineup. Hayden was in the lineup because rookie All-Star center Matty Beniers was out after taking a big hit from Vancouver’s Tyler Myers in Wednesday’s win over the Canucks. Beniers’ injury wasn’t specified but he was already ruled out for Saturday’s game against Columbus and his status for next weekend’s All-Star game is uncertain.

 

[thegx.ca]

Good bounce back win after an embarrassing loss to Chicago yesterday and Gilbert is definitely better than Mackey back there...

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 51

 

Flames 4 NYR 5 OT

 

Lafreniere scores in OT to lift Rangers over Flames 5-4

By ALLAN KREDA

Associated Press

 

NEW YORK (AP) Alexis Lafreniere scored 1:37 into overtime and Jaroslav Halak made 28 saves as the New York Rangers beat the Calgary Flames 5-4 on Monday night.

Lafreniere led a 2-on-1 rush and then tracked down the rebound of Mika Zibanejad's shot, beating netminder Jacob Markstrom for his seventh goal this season. That ended a frenzied game that was tied four times and featured several fights following big hits - two by Rangers captain Jacob Trouba.

"Getting the game-winning goal in OT is always fun," the 21-year-old Lafreniere said. "It was a great up-and-down game with two really good goalies. It was fun to play."

Calgary's Andrew Mangiapane and Michael Stone scored two minutes apart early in the third period to give the Flames a 4-3 lead, but Zibanejad scored his second goal of the game - his team-leading 24th - to tie it for the fourth time at 12:55.

Filip Chytil also scored twice for the Rangers, who improved to 9-2-3 in their last 14 games and are 17-4-3 since Dec. 5.

Halak has won six straight and seven of his last eight appearances.

Zibanejad put New York ahead 3-2 with 14 seconds left in the second but Mangiapane scored at 6:38 of the third to tie it. The play was reviewed to determine if Mangiapane kicked in the puck with his skate, but the goal stood.

"It wasn't pretty at times. ... It was a hard battle. We just kept going," Zibanejad said. "It was a big two points and a great way to come back from the break."

Zibanejad's first goal came as he roofed the puck past Markstrom on the power play with assists to Chris Kreider and Artemi Panarin. The assist was Panarin's 300th point with the Rangers.

Chytil opened the scoring at 5:37 of the first, rifling a high shot past Markstrom. Kaapo Kakko and Adam Fox assisted.

Calgary forward Blake Coleman tied it at 10:25 with his 11th goal.

There were several skirmishes in the first as both teams were playing for the first time since Jan. 27 following the All-Star break.

"It wasn't a great hockey game, but it was an exciting game," Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. "It was different - a bunch of fights going on. ... Maybe the break was too short."

Trouba tussled with Calgary's Chris Tanev after the defenseman leveled Flames forward Dillon Dube with an open-ice check.

Later in the first, several fights ensued after Rangers forward Sammy Blais drilled Flames forward Milan Lucic. New York rookie Will Cuylle fought Calgary's MacKenzie Weegar, and Lucic was assessed an extra two minutes for roughing against Rangers forward Jake Leschyshyn.

"Exciting game. Fun game. I thought we were valiant to come back," Flames coach Darryl Sutter said. "I thought we played really well. ... There were three or four hits. They were clean, big hits."

Chytil put the Rangers ahead 2-1 on a breakaway at 2:02 of the second. Fans at Madison Square Garden chanted the 23-year-old Czech forward's name after his second goal.

"That's cool, feels very good," he said. "It motivates me to be better the next shift and show what I can do."

Chytil has a career-best 18 goals and 31 points this season. He has six goals in his last four games and 14 points - 10 goals - in his last 12 games.

Calgary's Tyler Toffoli tied it at 2 with his 19th goal on the power play at 16:45 of the second.

Trouba struck again with just under a minute left in the second, body-checking Nazem Kadri hard in the Rangers zone, then fighting Dube who rushed to his teammate's defense. Dube received an extra two-minute penalty for instigating, and Zibanejad scored the go-ahead goal on the ensuing power play.

[thegx.ca]

If only Lucic would've beat up Trouba in the start Calgary would've won...

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 52

 

Flames 1 Wings 2

 

Zadina returns, scores go-ahead goal as Red Wings top Flames

 

 

0:43

 

Filip Zadina scores goal vs. Flames

Filip Zadina scores goal vs. Flames

---

ByAP

6 hours ago

 

DETROIT -- — Filip Zadina made a successful return to the Detroit lineup, scoring the go-ahead goal at 5:51 of the third period to send the Red Wings over the Calgary Flames 2-1 Thursday night.

 

Zadina had not played since Nov. 5 because of a broken right leg.

 

“That was lifting for our group and really happy for him,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. “Tonight I thought for the most part a pretty complete game. I don’t think we’ll apologize, or our guys won’t, I’m not saying we have to be perfect, but that’s how it has to look for us to win. And we got it done tonight.”

 

Zadina passed to Oskar Sundqvist, got the puck right back and snapped it into the open right side of the net past goaltender Dan Vladar for his first goal of the season.

 

“Obviously it felt pretty good,” Zadina said. “It felt even better that I could help the team to win the game. It felt amazing.”

 

Flames forward Blake Coleman scored the first goal of the game at 18:54 of the second period when he deflected Noah Hanifin’s shot from the left point.

 

Coleman extended his goal streak to three games. He has six points in that span.

 

Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin tied the game at 19:46 of the second when he scored on the power play, his team-leading 16th goal.

 

It was the first goal scored by the Red Wings against the Flames since Feb. 23, 2020, as the last two meetings were Calgary shutouts. In that 2020 game, Larkin scored twice in a 4-2 loss.

 

Larkin has seven goals and four assists in 13 career games against Calgary.

 

“There are no excuses at this time of year,” Coleman said. “We’ve got 30 games left and we’ve got to get every point and win the game. We took too many penalties and then it came down to one breakdown in the third period.”

 

Detroit goaltender Ville Husso had 35 saves and hasn’t lost in four career games against the Flames.

 

“I guess it’s playoff hockey for us,” Husso said. “Almost 30 games left, whatever, so you still want to make it there. It’s on us. We just need to come in every night and play like that and give us a chance to win.”

 

Vladar finished with 15 saves.

 

“I was pleased with the first two periods, especially on the road, but we took too many penalties and they got the big goal in the third,” Flames coach Darryl Sutter said. “We’ve seen that a lot this year.”

[thegx.ca]

Good defensively only allowed less than 20 shots even with all those penalties...but man losing all these one goal games is annoying...

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 53

 

Flames 7 Sabres 2

 

Flames get hot in 2nd period for 7-2 win over Sabres

 

---

ByAP

Updated: 2 hours ago

 

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- — The Calgary Flames scored four times in just over five minutes in their 7-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday.

 

Dillon Dube had a goal and three assists for Calgary and Tyler Toffoli had two goals and an assist. Jakob Pelletier, Mikael Backlund, Nazem Kadri and Dennis Gilbert also scored, while Jacob Markstrom made 21 saves.

 

Tage Thompson and Casey Mittelstadt scored for the Sabres, and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 33 saves.

 

After falling behind 2-0, the Flames took control with a dominant second-period surge that saw them score four times between 2:17 and 7:39.

 

“It just felt like everything kind of kept coming in waves and we did a really good job,” Toffoli said. “We could tell that they were getting frustrated and we just capitalized on our opportunities.”

 

Pelletier, the 26th overall pick in the 2019 draft, began Calgary’s comeback with his first career goal. Backlund evened the score 20 seconds later from the right circle on a poor moment by Luukkonen.

 

Gilbert, a Buffalo native, scored his first goal of the season and the second of his career 4:04 into the second by collecting a drop pass and beating Luukkonen with a low slap shot.

 

“We maybe started a little bit slower than we would’ve liked, but we had a good response in between periods,” Gilbert said. “We had a good second and third.”

 

Luukkonen made one of his best saves of the season on a two-man rush 7:09 into the second, robbing Dube. But the Flames quickly struck again, making it 4-2 20 seconds later on Kadri’s shot through traffic for his 20th goal of the season.

 

Calgary outshot Buffalo 34-8 through two periods.

 

“We never found a rhythm even though we had some good energy in the first, and then we died,” Sabres coach Don Granato said. “We looked fatigued. We looked like we hadn’t played in a while.”

 

Toffoli made it 5-2 1:57 into the third on a tap-in and scored his second of the game to make it 6-2 with 6:55 remaining. Dube scored with 2:49 left in the game for the final margin.

 

Thompson opened the scoring on the power play 7:56 into the game on his 35th goal of the season. He has a career-high 69 points through 51 games.

 

ANDERSSON OUT AGAIN

 

 

Calgary defenseman Rasmus Andersson was held out after he was struck by a vehicle while riding a scooter in Detroit on Wednesday. Andersson has been considered day to day and isn’t expected to miss a significant amount of time. Andersson is one of Calgary’s top defensemen and has 34 points on the season.

 

[thegx.ca]

Man I thought they were done for after those two goals in three shots by Buffalo haha

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 54

 

Flames 3 Sens 4 OT

 

Stutzle scores in OT, Senators rally to beat Flames 4-3

 

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) Tim Stutzle scored at 1:55 of overtime to cap Ottawa's comeback from two goals down as the Senators beat the Calgary Flames 4-3 Monday night.

Brady Tkachuk, Drake Batherson and Alex DeBrincat also scored for Ottawa and Stutlze had assists on all three goals. Mads Sogaard, appearing in his fourth NHL game, made 34 saves.

"A lot of pucks bobbling in the slot and on the power play, too," Stutzle said. "We had some good looks and the puck bobbled every time we wanted to shoot. . I got really mad there a couple of times, but in the end we figured it out. We did a great job staying with it.

The 22-year-old Sogaard got the start with Cam Talbot and Anton Forsberg sidelined. He had 10 saves in the first period, 15 in the second, eight in the third and one in overtime.

"It's awesome to be here and awesome to get a win in front of our fans and you know it's my first win here," Sogaard said. "I lost the last time I played against Winnipeg so it was a very special moment and something I won't forget."

Senators coach D.J. Smith gave Sogaard plenty of credit.

"He looked really calm," Smith said. "I mean he's big, obviously, pucks hit him and he made the saves he had to make. They had plenty of chances and he looked good."

Dillon Dube had two goals and Tyler Toffoli had a goal and an assist for the Flames. Jacob Markstrom finished with 21 saves.

"We had chances throughout the entire game to essentially put them away, and we didn't," Toffoli said. "We let them hang around. They're a team with a lot of skill and can do what they did."

The Senators trailed 3-1 late in the third period before Batherson scored on the rebound of a shot by Stutzle with 2:14 left and DeBrincat tied it 46 seconds later. Both goals came with Sogaard pulled for an extra skater.

"There's four, five minutes left and you see a few people leaving and before you know it, it's tied up," Batherson said. "It's awesome. We haven't scored many 6-on-5 goals since I've been here and the place went nuts so it was great to get the win."

The Senators got off to a bit of a slow start, but were first on the scoreboard when Stutzle fed Tkachuk a great pass to spring him loose for a breakaway goal 6:10 into the first period. It was his 21st goal of the season.

Dube tied it on a power play when he deflected Noah Hanifin's shot past Sogaard with 5:13 left in the opening period.

Toffoli put Calgary ahead at 5:55 of the second - just seconds after a power play expired - when he beat Sogaard on the glove side with his 22nd.

Dube put the Flames up 3-1 with his second of the night and 15th of the season by tipping Toffoli's shot past Sogaard.

"I thought we dominated the game," Flames coach Darryl Sutter said. "I thought we totally dominated puck possession. Whether it's the next goal or the next save, I thought we were in total control of the game."

[thegx.ca]

Just disgusted Calgary blew 2 goal lead with 2 minutes to go no excuse for that...