Flames beat Hurricanes, Extend Win Streak to Seven Games

Calgary entered their Sunday afternoon tilt with the Carolina Hurricanes looking for their seventh win in a row. With the five day break around the corner, it would have been easy for the Flames to look past this one, but they didn’t and emerged victorious again.

Sean Monahan was a late scratch for today’s game as Marek Hrivik slotted into the lineup for his first game of the season. Sam Bennett moved up to centre the top line while Andrew Mangiapane took his spot on the third line left wing.

1st Period: Calgary Flames 2, Carolina Hurricanes 0

Calgary would take the early lead with the fourth line providing an offensive spark. Curtis Lazar would wind into the offensive zone, getting around Justin Faulk before being tripped by a Hurricane. At the same time the puck would slide right onto the stick of Matt Stajan who would bury it to make it 1-0 Flames. It’s Stajan’s first goal of the year.

The middle portion of the period would feature the Flames playing a strong road period, limiting the Hurricanes from getting any great chances while getting a few looks of their own.

Late in the period, Johnny Gaudreau would find Dougie Hamilton streaking towards the slot. Hamilton would beat Scott Darling with a low-glove shot to put Calgary up 2-0. Gaudreau and Micheal Ferland would get assists on the goal. It also gives Gaudreau a seven game point streak.

2nd Period: Calgary Flames 2, Carolina Hurricanes 0

I genuinely don’t know how to recap this period as there weren’t a lot of recap-able events. Mike Smith had a great period making some big saves and helping to kill off two successive Hurricane powerplays.

Aside from that, not much else happened. Both teams had their chances, but the goalies stood tall.

3rd Period: Calgary Flames 4, Carolina Hurricanes 1

The third period would start with Mark Giordano absolutely demolishing Sebastian Aho in front of the Flames net. Justin Williams would come to the defense of his teammate and fight Gio, getting knocked down in the process.

After the refs discussed it, they deemed Gio’s would be penalized for a head to the head and a game misconduct. Williams took an instigator in the fight. Carolina would take a high-sticking penalty shortly after, sending Calgary to a brief 4-on-3 powerplay.

Then we’d get a bit of craziness during 4-on-4. It would look like Brock McGinn beat Smith, setting off the goal horn, but it actually hit the post.

The Flames would carry the puck up the ice and a great passing play would set up Dougie Hamilton for his second goal of the game. Matthew Tkachuk put a perfect pass on Hamilton’s tape while Gaudreau got the other assist. 3-0 Flames.

All of the penalties would expire and the game would return to even strength, minus Giordano.

Garnet Hathaway would take a high-sticking penalty midway through the period to give Carolina another powerplay opportunity. It would be killed before Ferland would be hooked to give Calgary their own powerplay.

The Flames would continue their improved powerplay of late with a puck bouncing to Matthew Tkachuk who would beat Darling (who had no chance) up high. Troy Brouwer and Mikael Backlund would get assists on the powerplay. 4-0 Flames.

Carolina would get a powerplay with about six minutes to go and former Flame Lee Stempniak would take advantage to get Carolina on the board with a rebound goal. 4-1 Flames.

Flames would go on to win the game 4-1. Seven in a row!

Final Thoughts

• The fourth line had a really solid night. Curtis Lazar played the best hockey I’ve seen him play for the Flames, especially in the first half of the game. Marek Hrivik looked like he fit right in. Stajan got his first of the year.
• Even without Sean Monahan the top line continued to click as Johnny Gaudreau picked up a pair of points.
• The powerplay struck again as it finally starts to improve
• Mike Smith had another solid night in net for the Flames making 38 saves.
• It’ll be interesting to see how the Mark Giordano situation will sort itself out over the coming days as the league will evaluate his hit on Aho.
• Dougie Hamilton has points in five straight games.
• Calgary has won 7 in a row!

Flame of the Game

Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Johnny Gaudreau (F): Gaudreau had yet another fantastic game, registering two more points and extending his streak to seven games. Gaudreau has 13 points over those 7 games. He also looked as deadly as ever tonight with the puck as he pulled off a number of really impressive moves.

Next Up: The Flames head into their league-mandated five day break before returning home to face the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday afternoon.