Calgary 3, Chicago 2
When: 7:00 PM ET, Sunday, December 2, 2018
Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
Referees:
Jake Brenk, Steve Kozari
Linesmen:
Greg Devorski, Andrew Smith
Attendance:
21074
By Field Level Media
Elias Lindholm and Derek Ryan each scored on the power play, and the Calgary Flames held on for a 3-2 win over the host Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday evening.
Sean Monahan also scored for Calgary, which won for the sixth time in the past eight games (6-1-1). The Flames improved to 2-0-0 against the Blackhawks this season.
Jonathan Toews and Dylan Strome scored in a losing effort for the Blackhawks. Chicago has lost four straight and six of seven.
Flames goaltender Mike Smith made 22 saves to improve to 8-7-1.
On the opposite end of the rink, Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford turned aside 38 shots but dropped to 5-11-1.
Calgary opened the scoring 10:07 into the first period. Monahan punched in a loose puck for his team-leading 15th goal.
It marked the seventh consecutive game in which Chicago has allowed its opponent to score first.
Chicago evened the score at 1 when Toews scored on a breakaway 86 seconds later. He bounced a pass to himself off the sideboards and outraced Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin for his 12th goal.
Blackhawks forward Chris Kunitz drew a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct after he bloodied the nose of Flames defenseman Travis Hamonic with an elbow in the second period. Calgary capitalized with a pair of power-play goals.
Lindholm gave the Flames a 2-1 lead when he sneaked in a wrist shot for his 12th goal. Crawford scrambled to his left to snare the puck, but a video review showed that he caught it just behind the goal line.
Calgary increased its lead to 3-1 less a little more than a minute later. Ryan guided a wrist shot through traffic for his fourth goal.
Chicago cut the deficit to 3-2 when Strome scored on the power play with 4:15 remaining in the second period. It was Strome's second goal with the Blackhawks and fifth goal this season.
Blackhawks defenseman Erik Gustafsson was a healthy scratch for the first time this season. The 26-year-old from Sweden has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 27 games.
--Field Level Media
Top Game Performances
Calgary |
|
Chicago |
Elias Lindholm 2 |
Points |
Dylan Strome 1 |
Elias Lindholm 1 |
Goals |
Dylan Strome 1 |
Johnny Gaudreau 2 |
Assists |
Corey Crawford 1 |
Elias Lindholm 1 |
Power Play Goals |
Dylan Strome 1 |
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
Mike Smith .917 |
Save Percentage |
Corey Crawford .927 |
Mike Smith 22 |
Saves |
Corey Crawford 38 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
Calgary
|
41 |
3 |
2-6 |
3-4 |
15 |
24 |
Chicago
|
24 |
2 |
1-4 |
4-6 |
28 |
32 |
Upcoming Games
-
Chicago will play their next game on the road against Anaheim. The Blackhawks have a W/L % of .300 after a win and .333 after a loss.
-
Calgary will play their next game on the road against Columbus. The Flames have a W/L % of .533 after a win and .667 after a loss.