Calgary Flames Season Chatter 22/23

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 55

 

Flames 2 Wings 5

 

Red Wings beat Flames 5-2, extend winning streak to 5 games

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) Detroit Red Wings winger Tyler Bertuzzi is healthy again and looks to be in vintage form.

Bertuzzi had a goal and two assists, Dominik Kubalik scored twice and the Detroit Red Wings extended their winning streak to a season-best five games with a 5-2 win over the Calgary Flames on Thursday night.

"You could see frustration in his game," Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said of Bertuzzi, who has missed 31 games due to injury this season. "He misses half of camp, plays a game and a half (then) breaks his hand (and is) out six weeks. Comes back for a few weeks and breaks his hand again. Battles a lower-body (injury).

"He just hasn't been able to get any rhythm in his game."

That is until Thursday. Coming off a career-best 30 goals and 62 points last season, Bertuzzi was the difference maker against Calgary.

Robby Fabbri and Pius Suter also scored for Detroit (26-20-8), which closed within two points of Washington in the race for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Red Wings hold three games in hand. Dylan Larkin had three assists, extending his point streak to six games (six goals, six assists). Magnus Hellberg made 33 saves.

Elias Lindholm and Dillon Dube scored for Calgary (25-19-11). The loss knocked the Flames out of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference, which now belongs to the Minnesota Wild.

Calgary's Dan Vladar stopped 19 of 24 shots. On the heels of a 13-game points streak (10-0-3), Vladar has lost back-to-back games in regulation, both against Detroit.

"Certainly didn't give us an opportunity to win, did it?" said Flames coach Darryl Sutter, when asked about his team's goaltending.

Tied 2-2 in the second period, Kubalik scored his second at 15:21 after some hard work behind the goal from Bertuzzi. Battling Nazem Kadri for a loose puck, Bertuzzi sent the puck into the slot as he was getting clipped in the face by Kadri's stick. While Bertuzzi was down and grabbing his face behind the net, Larkin zipped a cross-ice pass to Kubalik, who fired it past Vladar.

"(Bertuzzi) throws his body in front of the line all the time," said Hellberg. "He's such a great guy. He's blocking shots. He's playing tough. Making nice plays. Feels like he can do everything."

Bertuzzi made it 4-2 just over three minutes later on the man advantage when he steered in Fabbri's centering pass for his third of the season. Bertuzzi's three-point game was a season best for the right winger who has been limited to 23 games due to injuries.

"The break was the best for him. He got healthy," Lalonde said. "Now he's winning those second battles. That's a good sign for us."

Calgary opened the scoring on Lindholm's short-handed goal at 15:22 of the first period that was set up by Mikael Backlund.

The Flames only lead of the night was short-lived with Detroit tying it at 18:59. Bertuzzi got the puck out to Kubalik in the slot and his shot eluded Vladar after it partially deflected off the glove of Flames defenseman Michael Stone.

Stone also factored into Detroit going ahead 2-1 as his cross-checking penalty at 2:14 of the second put the Red Wings on the power play. Fabbri picked the top corner after a setup from Larkin 13 seconds later.

The Flames evened the game at 9:03 of the middle frame when Dube got loose down the right wing and scored his 16th goal of the season and fifth in the past three games.

ANDERSSON RETURNS

Calgary welcomed back defenseman Rasmus Andersson to the lineup. The team's leader in average ice time (24:40) missed three games after he was struck by a car while riding a scooter a week ago, when the team was visiting Detroit.

POWER TRIP

Detroit's power play was sizzling Thursday. A perfect 3 for 3 over the previous two games, the Red Wings went 2 for 4 on the man advantage.

[Brewin Flames]

Meh...they are sliding fast.

[thegx.ca]

10 hours ago, Brewin Flames said:

Meh...they are sliding fast.

This year I didn't think defence and goaltending would be problem...

[Brewin Flames]

15 minutes ago, Villella McMeans said:

This year I didn't think defence and goaltending would be problem...

 

 

I know you are a big fan of the "sutter" system....but it's not going to work when the defense is poor and markstrom has struggled.

 

I think sometimes sutter forgets that you have to score goals sometimes too.

[thegx.ca]

20 minutes ago, Brewin Flames said:

 

 

I know you are a big fan of the "sutter" system....but it's not going to work when the defense is poor and markstrom has struggled.

 

I think sometimes sutter forgets that you have to score goals sometimes too.

Yeah...haha I'm a Sutter fan for sure and I do like the Sutter defensive system too...youre right about Markstrom this year though the Ottawa game the first 2 goal then the outside shot by DeBrincat he's gotta stop...the Detroit game they should be taking the man and the pass option away instead of all rushing towards the shooter...oh well they gotta perfect the Sutter system more too if they want it to be successful...

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 56

 

Flames 3 NYR 2 OT

 

Backlund scores in OT as Flames stop Rangers' win streak

 

---

ByAP

Updated: 2 hours ago

 

CALGARY, Alberta -- — Mikael Backlund’s power-play goal 1:28 into overtime Saturday night gave the Calgary Flames a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers, snapping their seven-game winning streak.

 

Andrew Mangiapane and Nazem Kadri both scored in the first minute for Calgary (26-19-11). The Flames pulled even in points with Minnesota for the second wild-card berth in the Western Conference, but the Wild have a game in hand.

 

“It’s a playoff game every game for us. We can’t afford to lose too many more, so we've got to go on a streak here," Backlund said.

 

Vladimir Tarasenko and Alexis Lafreniere scored for the Rangers (33-14-9), who have earned at least one point in each of their last 10 games (8-0-2). They are 14-2-4 in their last 20.

 

New York is two points behind New Jersey for second place in the Metropolitan Division.

 

“Going down early like we did, first two shifts of the game 2-0, in order to get a point we had to claw back,” said Rangers center Vincent Trocheck, who had two assists. “I thought we played a good game the rest of the way. Just first two minutes really killed us.”

 

The Rangers scored 36 goals during their winning streak — which included scoring at least four in seven straight games for the first time since February 1991.

 

But against a struggling Flames team, they could only solve Jacob Markstrom twice on 21 shots. Markstrom won for just the second time since Jan. 6. He improved to 15-13-7.

 

Jaroslav Halak, who made 29 saves, fell to 8-6-2.

 

“We hung him out to dry early. Some of the saves he made were unbelievable,” New York defenseman Ryan Lindgren said.

 

The game-winner came 38 seconds into a penalty on Adam Fox after the Rangers defenseman caught Dillon Dube with a high stick during a scrum in the corner.

 

On the 4-on-3 man advantage, Backlund deflected Jonathan Huberdeau’s shot past Halak.

 

“You know my shot, there’s no way that was going in,” Huberdeau said with a chuckle. “I saw Backs was wide open. He works on that every morning skate, so the work paid off this time. That’s a huge win for us.”

 

Huberdeau had two primary assists.

 

“Great shot by him seeing that we had some room in front there,” Backlund said. “He had a good night for us and he played really well, created a lot of chances and looks in the O-zone.”

 

Calgary was ahead 2-0 less than a minute into the game, but the score remained that way for more than 36 minutes before New York cut the deficit in half at 16:53 of the second period when Tarasenko capped off a pretty three-way passing play with Artemi Panarin and Trocheck.

 

Panarin’s assist extended his point streak to seven games (six goals, nine assists).

 

Calgary had numerous chances to regain a two-goal lead in the third, but Halak was excellent.

 

The Rangers tied it at 12:48 of the third. Lafreniere got a pass from Trocheck and put a shot on net that was partially stopped by Markstrom. As the rebound slithered toward the far post, Lafreniere was able to tap it in before Markstrom could get across.

 

It was Lafreniere's first career power-play goal.

 

“It’s nice to win games when you’re coming back, but you should play better at the start,” Tarasenko said. “Everybody knows that we can play better. I don’t think anybody’s satisfied with the result today.”

 

Calgary scored two goals eight seconds apart in the opening minute.

 

Mangiapane got in alone and made a terrific deke to get his 12th goal 38 seconds in.

 

Right after that, Kadri finished off a tic-tac-toe passing play with Huberdeau and Jakob Pelletier, and his 21st goal of the season had the Saddledome crowd buzzing.

 

LINDHOLM MISSING

 

The Flames were without No. 1 center Elias Lindholm, away from the team for the birth of his first child. His spot between Dube and Tyler Toffoli was taken by Adam Ruzicka, who has no points in his last 15 games and has gone 26 games without a goal.

 

[thegx.ca]

Got lucky they didn't blow it again haha but they played good tonight and finally got it done past regulation...

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 57

 

Flames 3 Flyers 4

 

Rookies Allison, Ersson lead Flyers to 4-3 win over Flames

 

---

ByAP

41 minutes ago

 

CALGARY, Alberta -- — Wade Allison scored the game-winner and fellow rookie Samuel Ersson made 32 saves to maintain his perfect record as the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Calgary Flames 4-3 on Monday.

 

Travis Konecny and Tony DeAngelo each had a goal and an assist for Philadelphia. Nicolas Deslauriers also scored as the Flyers snapped a four-game losing streak.

 

Mikael Backlund and Andrew Mangiapane had a goal an assist each for Calgary while Tyler Toffoli notched his team-leading 23rd.

 

The Flames remain two points back of Minnesota, which occupies the second wild card spot in the Western Conference. The Wild also hold a game in hand.

 

Ersson, 23, is the eighth goaltender in NHL history to start his career 6-0-0.

 

At the other end, the struggles continue for Jacob Markstrom, who had 18 stops. A finalist last season for the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender, Markstrom is 15-14-7 record and has not won consecutive starts since mid-December.

 

Down 3-1 to start the third period, Calgary got it back to even when Toffoli scored from a sharp angle at 4:38 and, less than five minutes later after a stretch of tremendous pressure, Mangiapane rattled in a rebound.

 

But the Flyers retook the lead at 11:33 on a defensive breakdown when James Van Riemsdyk got free in the slot and set up Allison at the far post for his eighth goal.

 

Blake Coleman nearly tied it with four minutes left but on a breakaway, but his shot through Ersson’s pads on a deke went off the post.

 

Philadelphia scored first at 16:59 when Konecny broke down the left wing, cut inside to sidestep the backcheck of Noah Hanifin, and beat Markstrom blocker side from 25 feet out.

 

The Flyers made it 2-0 at 7:30 of the second when Cam York hopped out of the penalty box to corral a loose puck at center and seconds later on a 2-on-1, his centering pass to Deslauriers was deflected in.

 

Backlund’s goal less than 90 seconds later cut the deficit to one, but Philadelphia restored its two-goal cushion at 11:31 when DeAngelo’s wrist shot from 40 feet out beat Markstrom over his glove.

 

Calgary failed to take advantage of a Philadelphia penalty kill that had surrendered three goals on its last five man disadvantages, going 0-for-4 on the power play. The Flyers finished 0-for-1.

 

[thegx.ca]

I've been watching The Flames since they moved to Calgary and they always have trouble with rookie goalies for some reason...

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 58

 

Flames 6 Yotes 3

 

Flames rally for 6-3 win, end Coyotes' points streak at 9

By JACK THOMPSON

Associated Press

 

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) Jakob Pelletier and Walker Duehr scored goals 25 seconds apart in the third period and the Calgary Flames rallied to beat the Arizona Coyotes 6-3 on Wednesday night.

Calgary's Mikael Backlund scored with 3:19 left to cap the scoring. It was his 13th of the season and was the Flames' third power-play tally of the night.

Milan Lucic, Elias Lindholm and Tyler Toffoli also scored for the Flames, who opened a three-game swing as they chase the top eight in the Western Conference playoff race. It was their first time playing at Mullett Arena. They outshot the Coyotes 52-14.

Lindholm, who also had an assist, reached 500 career points.

"Our season is on the line, and we played a solid game," Lindholm said. "Stuck with it and got the results."

Calgary went up 4-3 with 15:07 left on Pelletier's goal after Arizona's Matias Maccelli had been penalized for tripping. Just 26 seconds later, Duehr made it 5-3.

Pelletier's winner was his second career goal - the 2019 first-round pick played in just his 12th NHL game. "It's time for me to step up and score goals," he said.

Duehr was recalled from the Calgary Wranglers of the American Hockey League on Tuesday and contributed a goal and an assist.

"We needed the young guys," Flames coach Darryl Sutter said. "Walker's pace and his speed makes a difference to our team."

Nick Schmaltz, Clayton Keller and Maccelli scored goals for the Coyotes, who saw their nine-game points streak (5-0-4) come to an end. It had been the longest such streak running in the NHL and only six have been longer in the NHL this season.

"I think they were desperate, faster and they played a better game than us," Coyotes coach Andre Tourigny said.

Calgary dominated the shots on goal, with an 18-3 edge after the first period. But the only goal of the period was scored by Lucic, from in close on a nice feed from Duehr.

Karol Vejmelka managed to keep the Flames off the board the remainder of the period. In the first minute of the second period, the Flames' Mikael Backlund went off for tripping, the first penalty assessed in the game. Then 29 seconds later, Schmaltz scored his 16th goal on a one-timer from Keller's cross-ice pass. Juuso Valimaki also assisted on the goal at 1:11.

Keller was penalized for tripping at 7:09 of the second. But Vejmelka and the Coyotes killed the penalty, and Keller returned to the ice and scored his 24th of the season, unassisted, at 9:31.

Arizona made it 3-1 at 11:06 when Maccelli beat Dan Vladar on the short side for his fourth goal, also unassisted. At that point the Coyotes were being outshot 30-8.

The lead didn't last long. Arizona was assessed a bench penalty during a line change and 7 seconds into the Calgary power play, Lindholm put home a rebound off Toffoli's shot at 12:58. Toffoli tied it 1:02 later with a high shot from the blue line that beat Vejmelka for his 24th goal of the season. Lindholm assisted on that goal.

[thegx.ca]

If they would've lost this game after out shooting them 52 to 14 I think I would've flip right out...

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 59

 

Flames 3 VGK 4

 

Golden Knights rally from 2 down in 3rd to beat Flames in OT

 

 

1:02

 

Golden Knights rally from 3 down for OT win

Alex Pietrangelo scores an overtime goal to give the Golden Knights a 4-3 win over the Flames.

---

ByAP

4 hours ago

 

LAS VEGAS -- — The Vegas Golden Knights had plenty going against them Thursday night, getting badly outshot in the first period and trailing by two goals in the third.

 

Then they turned it around, scoring twice to force overtime before Alex Pietrangelo knocked in a rebound 42 seconds into the extra period to defeat the Calgary Flames 4-3.

 

“I thought we chipped away more as the game went on,” Pietrangelo said. “We were more aggressive, I think. They're on a back-to-back, and we kind of put them on their heels.”

 

The Knights, who lead the Western Conference with 75 points, extended their points streak to eight games. They are 6-0-2 during that stretch.

 

“You've got to be able to win those games if you expect to advance (in the playoffs)," Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. “We've got to get there first, and that's where these two points really matter. That is a bigger sign to me, the big picture is we can play these games against a heavy team.”

 

Zach Whitecloud and William Carrier scored in the third period for Vegas to erase the two-goal deficit.

 

Then in overtime, Jonathan Marchessault took a shot from the slot that nearly went into the net, but dropped behind Calgary goalie Dan Vladar. Pietrangelo was there to knock in the puck. Jack Eichel had the secondary assist for his second point of the night after earlier scoring a goal.

 

Eichel's goal came on a second-period power play. His shot from the left circle ended a skid of 25 chances without a power-play goal, and the Knights had converted just one of their previous 32.

 

Jakob Pelletier, Jonathan Huberdeau and Mikael Backlund had goals for the Flames. This was Backlund’s fourth game in a row with a goal, and he has eight points in his past five games.

 

Backlund and Pelletier each had two points.

 

Calgary dominated early taking 16 of the first 18 shots on goals, outshooting the Knights 18-8 overall in the first period. The Flames had three power plays in the period, taking five shots on goal on their first man advantage and scoring on the second one.

 

Vegas was fortunate to only be down a goal after the first, with Laurent Brossoit coming up with key saves among his 17 stops in the period.

 

“I don’t think we ever thought we couldn’t win it,” Cassidy said. “I wasn’t sure in the first period we felt that way.”

 

Brossoit wound up making 25 saves for his first victory since March 4 at Anaheim. He had offseason hip surgery and then spent nearly the entire season playing for the Knights' American Hockey League affiliate in Henderson before injuries at the top level gave him this opportunity.

 

“I've been waiting for this all year,” Brossoit said.

 

His wait nearly had to last a little longer when the Flames took 3-1 lead in the second period, but the advantage didn't hold up as Calgary played just a night after winning 6-3 at Arizona. Calgary had just one shot on goal in the final period of regulation.

 

“I think fatigue caught up with us a little bit,” Flames coach Darryl Sutter said. “I think the second goal, the goalie would like to have that back, for sure. A 3-1 game, you like to take that as far into the period as you can.”

[thegx.ca]

Can't believe they blew another lead...hopefully all this bad luck will mean better luck in 1 goal games in playoffs...

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 60

 

Flames 1 AVS 4

 

MacKinnon, Georgiev help Avalanche beat Flames, 4-1

 

 

DENVER (AP) Nathan MacKinnon had a goal to extend his points streak to seven games, Alexandar Georgiev stopped 28 shots and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Calgary Flames 4-1 on Saturday night for their fifth straight victory.

Mikko Rantanen, Alex Newhook and Denis Malgin also scored for Colorado. The defending champion Avalanche moved into a tie for second place with Winnipeg in the Central Division.

Colorado wrapped up a stretch of three back-to-back games over 11 days.

"Every team we've played we're kind of in the battle with for a playoff spot. Just crazy," MacKinnon said. "They're all waiting for us each time, too, so it wasn't like they were on a back-to-back as well. It's been a weird schedule."

Defenseman Cale Makar remained in the concussion protocol for the second game in a row. He has missed five of the last seven games due to two concussions.

Nazem Kadri assisted on Tyler Toffoli's goal for Calgary in his first game in Denver since helping Colorado win the Stanley Cup. Jacob Markstrom made 18 saves for the Flames.

"Our defense got beat one-on-one a lot," Flames coach Darryl Sutter said. "You play the Stanley Cup champions you can't have one or two guys off."

MacKinnon scored on Colorado's first shot of the game for the second straight night, his 21st at 3:05 of the first period. Newhook made it 2-0 with his 13th at 8:22 and Rantanen's 38th of the season at 2:42 of the second gave the Avalanche a 3-0 lead.

"The loss is on me. I was on the ice for three goals against. Unacceptable," Calgary defenseman Nikita Zadorov said. "First goal, bad positioning. Second goal, I should have blocked it. And third goal, I got worked. Worst timing to have the worst game of your career."

Toffoli's goal, his 25th, at 17:20 of the second made it 3-1 but Malgin's fifth goal of the season early in the third gave Colorado a cushion.

"He's so talented," MacKinnon said of Malgin. "We knew when we were getting him we were going to get a strong, sturdy little stocky guy. Good wheels, good skill and what a goal."

BIG WELCOME

The Avalanche paid tribute to Kadri with a highlight video on the scoreboard at the first media timeout. Kadri played three seasons with Colorado, capped by winning the title in June. He had a hat trick in Game 4 of the second round against St. Louis and scored the overtime goal in Game 4 of the finals against Tampa Bay that gave the Avalanche a 3-1 series lead. They won the series in six games.

The capacity crowd gave Kadri a standing ovation during the tribute and he banged his stick on the ice and tapped his heart in appreciation.

"Very classy. It was hard not to get emotional," Kadri said. "Obviously had some great years here and the city and the fans just continue to support me. It meant a lot to me."

[thegx.ca]

Welp...at least Loooch knocked someone out tonight...

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 61

 

Flames 3 Bruins 4 OT

 

Bos 4 Flames 3 OT

 

McAvoy scores in OT, Bruins beat Flames for 8th win a row

 

 

1:02

 

McAvoy scores OT winner with 4 seconds remaining

Charlie McAvoy gets the goal with four seconds remaining in overtime for the Bruins win.

---

ByAP

Updated: 3 hours ago

 

CALGARY, Alberta -- — Charlie McAvoy scored at 4:55 of overtime to give the Boston a 4-3 victory over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night, extending the NHL-leading Bruins' winning streak to eight games.

 

Linus Ullmark made a career-high 54 saves.

 

“What a game by him,” McAvoy said. “The shots were obviously a lot to a little there and he kept us in the game all night.”

 

Ullmark is the league leader in wins, goals-against average and save percentage. He is 31-4-1 this season.

 

In overtime, McAvoy deflected in Patrice Bergeron’s pass just as the game appeared to be headed to a shootout.

 

“It was such a heads-up play to pass that puck to me,” McAvoy said. “In a situation like that sometimes you’re thinking about the clock but he was able to make the extra pass there.”

 

Dmitry Orlov had two goals and an assist, and Pavel Zacha also scored. The Bruins (47-8-5) have a 13-point lead over Carolina in the overall standings.

 

Blake Coleman, Dillon Dube and Jonathan Huberdeau scored for Calgary. Dan Vladar, who allowed two goals on five shots in the first period, was lifted in favor of Jacob Markstrom at the start of the second period. Markstrom made 13 saves.

 

The Flames are five points behind Winnipeg and Edmonton, who are tied for the two wild-card spots in the Western Conference

 

“At this point in the year, we’re scrambling for our lives. We’re still fighting. We’re going to fight until the end,” Flames defenseman Nikita Zadorov said. “It’s a grown men’s league, you can’t feel sorry for yourself. You just got to go out there and play hockey and compete and put all your effort into it.”

 

The Flames overcame a 2-0 first-period deficit and led 3-2 in the third period. Zacha tied it on a power play with 5:53 left in regulation.

 

WESTERN DOMINATION

 

The Bruins improved to 21-2-2 against the Western Conference. Included is an 11-1-2 mark against the Pacific Division.

 

MILESTONE NIGHT

 

Flames center Nazem Kadri played in his 800th career game, while Coleman scored his 100th career goal.

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 62

 

Flames 1 Leafs 2

 

Jarnkrok breaks 3rd-period tie, Maple Leafs beat Flames 2-1

 

 

---

ByAP

Updated: 4 hours ago

 

CALGARY, Alberta -- — Calle Jarnkrok broke a tie at 2:20 of the third period and Joseph Woll made 25 saves in the Toronto Maple Leafs' 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Thursday night.

 

After Jacob Markstrom stopped Morgan Rielly on a breakaway, Jarnkrok was able to score off the rebound as the net came off its moorings.

 

Mitch Marner tied it for Toronto at 7:36 of the second period, weaving through the slot and beating Markstrom with a wrister past the glove.

 

“Tried to kind of get going downhill with speed, make a move, make another move,” Marner said.

 

Calgary’s Nazem Kadri appeared to score two minutes after Marner’s goal, with Marner serving a high-sticking minor. But the goal was successfully challenged as offside by Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe.

 

Woll made his third NHL appearance of the season and seventh overall. The 24-year-old former Boston College goalie is 14-1-0 this season for the Toronto Marlies in the American Hockey League.

 

Fourth in the Eastern Conference and second behind NHL-leading Boston in the Atlantic Division, Toronto rebounded from a 5-2 loss Tuesday night in Edmonton to win for the fourth time in five games.

 

Defensemen Luke Schenn and Erik Gustafsson played for Toronto following trades. Schenn — in his second stint with Toronto — came over in a deal with Vancouver, and the Maple Leafs got Gustafsson from Washington. Toronto has acquired half-dozen players in trades since Feb. 17 ahead of the trade deadline Friday.

 

“We’re excited about the guys we brought in,” Marner said. “Some big men who want to help this team achieve great things. It was great tonight that everyone dug in. Just needed a little from everyone and everyone gave it.”

 

Blake Coleman scored on a short-handed breakaway for Calgary at 2:32 of the first period. Markstrom stopped 32 shots.

 

“I thought he was our best player,” Flames coach Darryl Sutter said about Markstrom.

 

The Flames are ninth in the Western Conference and fifth in the Pacific Division. They are 3-4-3 in their last 10.

 

“Tough loss. Close again, but it’s been this way too many times,” Markstrom said. “It’s frustrating to not get away with any points.”

 

[thegx.ca]

Calgary should have kept Jarnkrok for the $2M he now getting in Toronto...

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 63

 

Flames 0 Wild 3

 

Gustavsson gets 2nd shutout as Wild beat Flames 3-0

 

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) Joel Eriksson Ek and Matt Boldy each had a goal and an assist, and Filip Gustavsson stopped 31 shots for his second shutout of the season as the Minnesota Wild beat the Calgary Flames 3-0 on Saturday night for their fourth straight win.

Marcus Foligno also scored for the Wild, who earned a point for their ninth straight game (8-0-1). Gustavsson improved to 6-0-2 in his last eight starts while allowing only 11 goals in that stretch.

Jacob Markstrom finished with 29 saves as he lost his fifth straight start (0-4-1) for the Flames. Calgary has lost five straight (0-3-2).

The Flames, 1-5-1 in their last seven at home, were booed by the home crowd throughout the closing minutes. Calgary trails Winnipeg by seven points for the second wild card in the Western Conference.

Eriksson Ek tipped Marcus Johansson's deflection of Boldy's long shot from the high slot to give the Wild a 1-0 lead with 5:08 left in the first.

Foligno made it 2-0 with 6:11 left in the third. Frederick Gaudreau's shot from the left side went over the crossbar and hit the top of the netting and bounced back toward Markstrom and Foligno reached behind the goalie and swatted the puck in out of the air for his fifth.

Boldy capped the scoring with 3 1/2 minutes left as he got Eriksson Ek's backand feed from behind the goal line and fired it in past Markstrom for his 17th.

CLOSE GAMES

The Flames lead the NHL in one-goal losses with a combined 24 between regulation time (11) and overtime (13). The Wild lead the NHL with 18 one-goal wins.

[thegx.ca]

19 games left gotta win at least 13 or more...

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 64

 

Flames 5 Stars 4

 

Ritchie scores in Flames debut, Toffoli late winner vs Stars

 

 

1:06

 

Tyler Toffoli nets goal vs. Stars

Tyler Toffoli nets goal vs. Stars

---

ByAP

4 hours ago

 

DALLAS -- — Calgary Flames forward Tyler Toffoli took a peek at the clock as he was charging down the middle of the ice toward the Dallas net.

 

“I saw that I had enough time to kind of do whatever I wanted, and obviously made the right choice,” Toffoli said.

 

Toffoli scored on a breakaway with 6.2 seconds left as the Flames beat Central Division-leading Dallas 5-4 on Monday night for their first win in six games after giving up a two-goal lead in the third period. His 26th goal was a wrister past Jake Oettinger after getting the puck from Jonathan Huberdeau.

 

Nick Ritchie scored a goal in his debut for Calgary after being part of the NHL’s first brother-for-brother trade, though his boarding penalty with just under three minutes left gave Dallas a late power play on which they failed to capitalize.

 

“Some back and forth there, having a lead and giving it up, but got it done at the end,” Ritchie said. “I think we deserved to win that one.”

 

Nikita Zadorov, Elias Lindholm and Rasmus Andersson also scored goals for the wildcard-chasing Flames, who were 0-3-2 in their previous five games.

 

Jason Robertson scored his 38th goal for Dallas, and Roope Hintz got his 30th on a short-hander. Max Domi got his first goal for the Stars since getting traded from the Blackhawks right after Dallas had played in Chicago last Thursday night, tying the game at 2-2 in the second period.

 

“Tonight definitely stung,” Stars center Tyler Seguin said. “They’re a good hockey team, they played well. And, you know, they always play well against us, and had our number as of late.”

 

The Flames won 6-5 in Dallas on Jan. 14, their first meeting since Calgary's overtime goal in Game 7 to beat the Stars in the first round of last season's Western Conference playoffs.

 

Hintz scored his short-hander midway through the third period before captain Jamie Benn's 26th goal with just under six minutes left tied the game at 4.

 

“It’s disappointing, especially crawling back in the game. I didn’t love our game all night,” Stars coach Peter DeBoer said. “We played in spurts, but not for long enough. We were fortunate to be tied at that point, but credit to our group. We didn’t pack it in, and we battled back. It’s a tough way to lose and to give that up. It’s probably a symptom of our whole game tonight — awareness and execution was off a little bit.”

 

Huberdeau also assisted on Ritchie’s goal less than four minutes into the game. Oettinger had stopped his shot but was unable to gather in the puck, which was just beyond his skate in the crease, when Ritchie swiped it in for a 1-0 lead.

 

“That felt good obviously," Ritchie said. “Getting a goal early helped the rest of the game."

 

Calgary acquired the 27-year-old Ritchie just before the trade deadline Friday from Arizona for his old brother, Brett. The younger Ritchie had scored nine goals in 58 games for the Coyotes. Brett Richie, who turns 30 on July 1, is about 2 1/2 years older.

 

Oettinger had 32 saves. Jacob Markstrom had 29 for the Flames, but gave up the short-hander to Hintz midway through the third period that got Dallas within 4-3.

 

 

[thegx.ca]

Overturned overtime goal in Minnesota and Calgary wins in shootout haha THE 19 GAME WINNING STREAK STARTS NOW HAHAHA

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 65

 

Flames 1 Ducks 3

 

Comtois, Grant rally Ducks to 3-1 win over Flames

 

 

0:46

 

Brett Leason scores goal vs. Flames

Brett Leason scores goal vs. Flames

---

ByAP

Updated: 4 hours ago

 

CALGARY, Alberta -- — Max Comtois and Derek Grant each had a goal and an assist as the Anaheim Ducks rallied to beat the Calgary Flames 3-1 on Friday night.

 

Brett Leason also scored and John Gibson stopped 34 shots to help the Ducks win for the fifth time in eight games (5-1-2).

 

“We know this time of year there’s a lot of teams trying to make the push and we’re going to be up against good competition,” said Gibson, who is 4-1-2 in his last seven games. “Whether it’s teams in the playoffs, teams outside of the playoffs, or teams pushing to get into a playoff spot, we know it’s all going to be competitive.”

 

Mikael Backlund scored for Calgary and Jacob Markstrom finished with 15 saves. The Flames snapped a two-game win streak and lost for the sixth time in eight games (2-4-2).

 

Calgary remained four points behind Winnipeg for the second wild card in the Western Conference.

 

“We got to understand that we’re fighting for our lives, and everybody in the room needs to find a way to step up a little bit more,” Flames defenseman MacKenzie Weegar said.

 

After a scoreless first period, the Flames took a 1-0 lead at 6:43 of the second on a power play when Elias Lindholm’s shot banked in off Backlund in front. It was Backlund's 15th goal of the season.

 

It was also Calgary's first power-play goal in six games after going 0 for 12 over the previous five games.

 

The lead was short-lived as the Ducks answered back 1:04 later on a deflection of their own. Frank Vatrano whipped a rising shot toward the net that changed directions off Comtois and fooled Markstrom. It was Comtois' seventh and ended Markstrom’s shutout streak at 98:35.

 

Leason then put the Ducks ahead with 8:27 left in the middle period as he whacked in a loose puck from the side of the net for his fifth.

 

The Flames peppered Gibson with 13 shots in the third as they pressed for the tying goal. However, he was perfect, with his best stop coming with less than seven minutes remaining when he snagged a close-in shot off the stick of Tyler Toffoli after the Flames' leading goal scorer was set up in the slot by Jakob Pelletier.

 

“He’s probably a top-five, top-three goalie in the league,” Comtois said of Gibson. “He’s always coming up with those big saves and keeping us in it. Even when we play really good teams and teams like today fighting for their lives in a playoff spot, they throw everything at him and he just comes up with the saves.”

 

In a flurry earlier in the period, Gibson kicked out his left pad to make successive pad stops from in-close on Jonathan Huberdeau and then Nazem Kadri.

 

“Incredible leader,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said. “He’s got a fire in him to compete. This year, obviously being in a rebuild, isn’t easy on a guy like that. I think he’s managed his mindset extremely well.”

 

NO COMEBACKS

 

Calgary fell to 0-16-3 when trailing after two periods. The Flames are the only NHL team without a comeback victory.

 

“We had a lot of looks, especially in the third," Flames defenseman Rasmus Anderson said. "We’re dominating the game in the third, and we just can’t get that tying goal or the leading goal so it’s frustrating.”

 

NO POINTS

 

The Flames snapped an eight-game (7-0-1) point streak against Anaheim that dated back to 2019. It had been their longest active streak against any one opponent.

 

NEW NO. 1

 

Gibson’s 13 saves in the first period moved him past Guy Hebert (11,813) and into top spot on the Ducks’ all-time list. Gibson has been busy this season, leading the NHL in saves with 1,516.

[thegx.ca]

Faaak...ok then...16 game winning streak starts tomorrow

[Brewin Flames]

Game # 66

 

Flames 5 Sens 1

 

Flames beat Senators 5-1 for 3rd win in four games

 

 

0:45

 

Tyler Toffoli scores goal for Flames

Tyler Toffoli scores goal for Flames

---

ByAP

Updated: 4 hours ago

 

CALGARY, Alberta -- — Elias Lindholm, Jonathan Huberdeau and Rasmus Andersson each had a goal and an assist, and the Calgary Flames beat the Ottawa Senators 5-1 Sunday night.

 

Trevor Lewis and Noah Hanafin also scored, and Nazem Kadri and Mikael Backlund each had two assists as the Flames won for the third time in four games. Jacob Markstrom stopped 30 shots.

 

“I thought we had good pace to our game all night,” Flames coach Darryl Sutter said. “When they did score, we came right back. ... Marky made some big saves.”

 

Calgary remained six points behind Winnipeg — which who won 3-2 at Tampa Bay earlier Sunday — for the second wild card in the Western Conference.

 

“We got to collect points as much as we can here in the stretch,” Kadri said. “Overall, I think just the whole 60 minutes is pretty positive for us. We made a lot of great plays and hopefully its something we can build on.”

 

Tim Stutzle scored his 32nd goal for Ottawa, and Kevin Mandolese finished with 35 saves to lose for the second time in the rookie's three career starts. The Senators have lost three of four after winning five straight.

 

The Senators are six points behind the New York Islanders for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference.

 

“We didn’t play our worst game but everything didn’t go the way we wanted it to,” Stutzle said. “The last two games aren’t the way we want to play. You just have to turn the page. But it’s definitely really frustrating right now.”

 

Adding to the challenge for the Senators is they also have to pass Florida and Washington, who are between them and the Islanders.

 

“We have a ton of belief in our group,” Ottawa defenseman Travis Hamonic said. “We’ve been resilient all season. We’ve played through a ton of adversity. We’ve clawed our way back into the race and into the conversation when everyone left us on the side of the road a couple months ago.”

 

Andersson opened the scoring with 7:51 left in the first as he got a pass back from Backlund on a rush and fired a shot past Mandolese from the slot for his ninth goal of the season.

 

Lindholm made it 2-0 as he scored from a sharp angle from the left side off a cross-ice pass across the front of the goal from Backlund for his 19th with 1:34 left in the first.

 

Stutzle took advantage of an unfortunate deflection by the Flames to get the Senators on the board at 5:55 of the second. Backlund's pass behind the net hit off Markstrom's leg and went in front of the net, where Stutlze tapped it into the open net.

 

Huberdeau redirected a pass from Kadri in the air over Mandolese's shoulder to restore the Flames' two-goal lead 1:08 later. It was his 13th.

 

“(Kadri) pass it to me and it hit the stick, I don't know, I just try to deflect it a little bit,” Huberdeau said. “I got lucky with that, it finally went in. ... It was quick. I'm glad it looked good.”

 

Sutter added: “That's a big play in the game.”

 

Hanafin made it 4-1 as he got a pass from Kadri and beat Mandolese from the left circle for his fifth with 6:52 left in the middle period.

 

Lewis jumped on a loose puck in front and whipped it in for his ninth at 5:30 of the third to cap the scoring.

 

LINDHOLM’S MILESTONE GOAL

 

Lindholm’s goal was the 200th of his career — including 136 with the Flames. He’s fourth for the most goals by a Swede in franchise history behind Kent Nilsson (229), Hakan Loob (193) and Backlund (180).