Throw Gillies to the Yotes – Flames (5) @ Coyotes (2)

Jon Gillies for the Win. With only his second NHL start, and first of the season Gillies stops 35 shots and secures the much needed 2 points for his team. Gillies got some ice time at home this past Saturday, during the Florida Panthers game, when David Rittich was pulled early in the 2nd after allowing 4 goals on 15 shots.

1st Period

Yikes – the game starts with an awkward face-off – Sam Bennett on the top line with Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau. Johnny gets a stick in his face (don't check for blood, it was your own player) – #93. Sam on Johnny "Yea he skated around, and just clipped my stick" – that's a long ass stick.

57 seconds in…

We've all heard this story before. Gillies allows a rebound goal off of Ekman-Larssons sniper – Stepan, Yotes capitalizing on it.

Flames with the first PP with Backlund drawing the hooking penalty on Stepan, less than 5 minutes into the game.

Another scary moment for Calgary Flames fans, as Johnny's failed pass to Monny allows #48 a shot at Gillies – #32 struggling with the rebound again ..

Shots are 5-4 for Coyotes half way in the first as Gillies makes a pad save.

Stajan down ..

Flames falling like flies. Stajan takes a hard shoulder to the head. No penalty called – even tho the puck was no where near him ..

And Johnny's back, 1-1 game, 11 minutes in with a goal from Bennett.

Sam Bennett finding his groove on the top line – pots in his 9th (of the season), Gio and Johnny with the A's .

Ferdiddy bringing down Rinaldo (this ain't soccer – in hockey we fight!) – remember that shoulder on my buddy Stajan – yea.

Just in case you missed it – Johnny's back! 2-1 score board.

Monny loses a handle, but the puck knows where Johnny's at – Bennett leading the Yotes D towards the net with him – Johnny gets his 20th goal of the season.

Gillies makes a stick save, shots 6-8 for Coyotes, with just over 5 minutes left in the first.

Tkachuk gets a roughing call at 4:48 clock.

Goligoski keeping it in the Flames zone a few times for the Yotes, finally cleared, as Flames are able to kill off the penalty – no shots registered on net – saving the kid Tkachuk this time. Got to love his aggressive play though.

Flames take a good tripping call .. yep good.

Archibald was on his way to a backhand top right – until Johnny dragged him down with a hook. Flames win the face off and kill off the first 49 seconds of the penalty.

2nd Period – Stajan is back.

Over a minute left in Flames PK – and it ends with Stajan clearing the puck for his team.

No goal – high stick ruling reversing Backlund's would be goal. 

Remains 2-1 for the Flames a few minutes into the second.

TJ Brodie with a hooking call 5 minutes in. Frolik gets a short-handed chance, Gillies making a couple of saves on the other end.

And with 3 seconds left in the Coyotes PP – Domi is sent to the box for hooking.

Calgary Flames now on a Power Play. Dougie Hamilton puts his first PP shot wide, but makes no mistake on the second shot, towards the net, from Johnny – turn pass to Monny.

And with that – Monahan gets his 28th goal.  

Sean Monahan now 9th in the NHL for goals scored – outflanked by Kucherov (32 G), Malkin (33 G), Ovechkin (36 G).

Calgary Flames lead the pack of Coyotes by 2.

The black stripes are better at threading the needle than i – because i did NOT see that hook-ing call on Frolik (6:49).

Goligoski has been good in keeping the puck in the Flames zone for the Yotes. I remember hoarding him a few years in row – in my hockey pool during the Penguin days (with Letang – like a decade ago).

And – the Flames kill off another Penalty. How many is that now, 5 – last 3 were playing hooky calls.

3rd Period

Hamonic #24 gets crushed along the boards by Cousins #25 – Tkachuk having words, while he wrestles Cousins to the ground – sending him back to his bench with a message.

Then Stajan gets sent off for slashing (whomp whomp) – as Flames are put to work on their 6th PK – Yotes hit the post!

Post to Janko #77 break away SH goal! Just strips Goligoski!

Good on Brodie to bounce the puck off the board. Jankowski securing a solid 4-1 lead early in the third for the Flames – that'll help Gillies feel a little more comfortable in his 1st start this season.

Stepan with his 5th shot on Gillies – 10:10 left to play. Shots just about even 27-28 for Arizona. Penalty minutes are 17 for the Flames (Ferland with that extra sauce 5 mins for fighting), 13 for the Coyotes.

Tkachuk has more where that comes from!

Dougie Hamilton gets his second assist of the night with another great pass, this time to #19.  

Calgary Flames up 5-1 with 8 minutes to go.

Lucky for the cushion, Gillies lets one in, possibly off Hamonic, but who knows – and who cares (except for #32 stats)

Flames take it 5-2.

Who are we watching?

Nashville Predators did us a favour and beat the San Jose Sharks 7-1.

Dallas Stars and LA Kings play each other – somebody win in regulation time and end our misery.

Meanwhile the Minnesota Wild snag a 3rd spot in the Central division / tethering off the wild card spot the Flames so covet.

Johnny and his teeth stealing the show – with a solid 3 point game for #13 after missing a few minutes while getting repairs early in the game. 

Honourable mentions go to Captain Giordano (+4) and Dougie Hamilton (+3), both getting 2 assists in tonights game. Sending Bennett up the ladder worked – Monahan and Bennett get 1 goal, 1 assist a piece.

To add fuel to the fire: the Young ins – Janko, and Tkachuk add a goal each in the 3rd for good measure.

The Calgary Flames (71 points) will have some great momentum going forward off of that win – playing an important game against the Colorado Avalanche (69 points) at home, at the Saddledome on Saturday.

by Renu Sahota