The New York Rangers came to Calgary looking for their first win in the last three games, but the Flames snatched a 5-1 win.
New York Rangers 1
Rangers Goals: Pionk (6)
Calgary Flames 5
Flames Goals: Gaudreau (34), Tkachuk (31), Hathaway (8), Frolick (14), Tkachuk (32)
NHL: Boxscore
The New York Rangers continued to represent a competitive team night in and night out until Friday. Matthew Tkachuk put forth a five-point game helping the Calgary Flames defeat the Blueshirts, 5-1.
The first period was evenly played as the flames had the early edge in shots and scored the first goal of the game. The Flames leading point man, Johnny Gaudreau, scored his 34th of the year to give Calgary a 1-0 lead exactly at the 10:00 mark.
The Rangers proved again how resilient they can be, battling back to tie the score just 1:10 later when Neal Pioink rifled a low shot past Flames goalie David Rittich to tie the game at one. It was Pionk’s sixth of the year.
The second period started with the Flames all over the Rangers defense and it took less than three minutes for Calgary to take the lead. Matthew Tkachuk scored to put the Flames up 2-1. It was Tkachuk’s 31st of the year.
The Rangers looked flat and Calgary took advantage by scoring again over a minute later when Garnet Hathaway netted his eighth. Tkachuk had the primary assist, his 100th of his career, and in a blink, the Flames had a 3-1 lead. The Flames scored two goals on their first two shots of the second period.
The Rangers were able to kill off a Brett Howden slashing penalty and then found themselves with a man advantage late in the period. The Blueshirts saw some great opportunities but were unable to convert for the second time with the man advantage. The second period ended with the Flames up two goals.
The Flames were able to score early in the third period, a common thread to Friday night’s game. Tkachuk recorded his fourth point of the night, assisting on Michael Frolik‘s 14th of the season, giving the Flames a 4-1 lead 5:12 into the third.
Tkachuk wasn’t done yet. He scored his second of the game and his fifth point of the night, giving the Flames a 5-1 lead.
The Rangers, who have won just once in their last 10 games, fly to Minnesota for a game against the Wild Saturday night.
Game Highlights
Tkachuk flips a perfect pass to Johnny Gaudreau, who makes a quick move around Alexandar Georgiev on the breakaway to open the scoring.
Neal Pionk receives a pass from Ryan Strome and blasts a slap-shot from the top of the circle past David Rittich to tie the score 1-1.
Tkachuk gets the good position in front of the net and tips Mark Giordano‘s shot past Georgiev to give the Flames a 2-1 lead.
Garnet Hathaway sets up in front of the net and taps home a pass from Tkachuk, who earns his 100th career assist.
Tkachuk grabs a loose puck in front and backhands a beautiful pass to Michael Frolik, who flips a shot past Georgiev.
Mikael Backlund slides a pass across the crease to Matthew Tkachuk, who scores his second goal to give him a five-point night.
