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Best of 5 series tied 1-1

Leaders:

Goals

VGK: Marchessault/Stone (2)

CGY: Mangiapane (4)

Assists

VGK: Stastny/Smith/Karlsson/Pacioretty (2)

CGY: Monahan/Gustafsson/Andersson (4)

Points

VGK: Pacioretty/Stone (3)

CGY: Monahan/Mangiapane (6)

Goalies

VGK: Lehner (1-1-0) 2.50 GAA .917 Sv%

CGY: Rittich (3-1-0) 2.00 GAA .953 Sv% 2 SO

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Calgary Flames 2 - Vegas Golden Knights 0

Scoring

Calgary Flames

1st: None

2nd: 10:09- Tkachuk (3) (Mangiapane [2], Backlund [2])

3rd: 19:37 PPG EN- Mangiapane (4) (Bennett [2], Backlund [3])

Vegas Golden Knights

1st: None

2nd: None

3rd: None

Recap

There seems to be a formula for ending curses. 919 days after Mike Smith posted a 43 save shutout in a 2-0 win to end the Anaheim curse, the Flames did it again. While Jobu’s presence in the virtual locker room remains unknown, David Rittich posted a 47 save shutout in a 2-0 victory to finally earn Calgary a victory in Vegas.

A win on the road in this series was absolutely crucial, as Calgary only has 2 home games in the 5 game series as the lower seed.

A scoreless first period set the stage for what would be an impressive goaltending dual between Rittich and Robin Lehner. Rittich had 13 saves through the first, compared to Lehner’s 11, whom also thwarted a Calgary powerplay.

Vegas tilted the offensive pressure in the second, putting up 20 shots compared to just 12 Calgary attempts. However, it was Matthew Tkachuk midway through the frame that would earn the game’s first tally. Andrew Mangiapane slipped past the Vegas defender in the offensive zone corner, and drove to the front of the net. The man defending Tkachuk released to challenge Mang, who slid it to Tkachuk for the one-timer.

It would stand as the game winner. Vegas put up another 16 shots in the third, as well as 3 powerplay attempts during the second and third period. Rittich would end the night having stopped all 47 Vegas shots, for his second shutout of these playoffs. Andrew Mangiapane added the empty net goal on a late Calgary powerplay, and the Flames will return home for Games 3 and 4 having tied the series.

Flame of the Game

Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

David Rittich (G): Talk about silencing the haters. After stepping in for Talbot in Round 1, Rittich finished the series out incredibly strong. The 5 goals he gave up in Game 1 of this series likely had many people wondering if he was only able to succeed against an offensively challenged Coyotes team, but his performance in this one was awe inspiring. Rittich will be the goalie for the remainder of the playoffs it would seem.

Other NHL20 Playoff Sim Scores from Tonight

(1) St. Louis Blues 6 vs (9) Minnesota Wild 3 (Blues lead series 2-0)

(1) Boston Bruins 3 vs (11) New York Rangers 4 (Series Tied 1-1)

(4) Philadelphia Flyers 3 vs (5) Pittsburgh Penguins 4 (Series Tied 1-1)