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Calgary Flames (7) Vancouver Canucks (4): Top PP Unit Leads Flames To Victory

Yes, you read that correctly. The Flames scored 3 PPG on the night and took care of business at home.

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Calgary Flames 7 Vancouver Canucks 4

Recap

Well, we all asked for a better power play and a better power play we received. The Flames put 3 pucks in the net on 6 PPO and got their first win of the season, taking down the Vancouver Canucks 7-4 Saturday night.

The Flames needed something to go their way after what was a terrible start to the season Wednesday night. What Calgary fans got to see tonight was the newcomers mesh with the veterans on the roster and the offence was magical. Johnny Gaudreau had a 3 point night getting a PPG and 2 assists. Elias Lindholm showed the crowd what his game entails with a 3 point night, including a PPG. And not to be outdone was Matthew Tkachuk who had 4 helpers himself on the night and continued to make friends around the league.

Slightly concerning is Calgary’s inability to slow down Elias Pettersson. The 19 year old Swed scored twice and added an assist in only his second game of the season. If you’re scoring at home, that’s 5 points in his first 2 NHL games….all against the Flames.

There was some “concern” before the game about what would come of Wednesday night’s shenanigans and Dalton Prout being placed into the Flames lineup, but nothing came of it. The game wasn’t chippy at all and was more of an offensive showcase of what’s to come between the young stars of both teams for years to come.

Mike Smith shut the door late in the third period, after playing somewhat shaky and 2 empty net goals, 1 by Austin Czarnik and one by Michael Frolik put the final nail in the Canucks coffin, giving the Flames a 7-4 win on opening night at the Dome.

Scoring

Calgary Flames

1st Period: Lindholm (1) (Brodie/Giordano), Giordano (1) (Brodie/Lindholm)

2nd Period: Gaudreau (1)- PP (Monahan/Tkachuk)

3rd Period: Monahan (2)- PP (Gaudreau/Tkachuk), Lindholm (2)- PP (Gaudreau/Tkachuk), Czarnik (1) -Empty Net (Giordano/Tkachuk), Frolik (1)- Empty Net (unassisted)

Vancouver Canucks

1st Period: Pettersson (2) (Goldobin/Eriksson), Sutter (unassisted)

2nd Period: Pettersson (3)- PP (Eriksson), Horvat (1)- PP (Pettersson/Edler)

Final Thoughts

Calgary needed a good showing and that’s exactly what they got. The Flames top 2 lines really stepped up their game and the PP finally came alive. The league is going to have a hard time slowing down a PP line with Gaudreau, Sean Monahan and Matthew Tkachuk on it and despite their opening night struggles, you might want to keep that crew off the ice. It was also nice to see the Monahan/Gaudreau connection in mid-season form as well. Those 2 just know where each other are on the ice at all times and the results from tonight’s 7-4 win are encouraging. All in all it was a much better performance from the Flames tonight. Mike Smith wasn’t very steady between the pipes tonight, but when he needed to make a save, he made a highlight reel glove save that kept the game at 5-4 and allowed the Flames to pull away shortly thereafter.

Flame Of The Game

Matthew Tkachuk (F). Hard to argue here. Tkachuk had a 4 point night and played very well. He’s now a major part of the Flames top PP unit and he had a hand in all 3 of the Flames PPG.

What’s Next?

Oct 9: Calgary Flames @ Nashville Predators, 6 PM MT

by Mark Parkinson