The Calgary Flames tied a franchise record by winning their fourth consecutive game to open the season, defeating the visiting Chicago Blackhawks 3-1 on Tuesday.
Matt Coronato scored twice, Andrei Kuzmenko added a power-play goal and Dustin Wolf made 31 saves for the Flames, who matched their season-opening mark accomplished previously in 1993-94 and 2009-10.
Nick Foligno scored and Petr Mrazek made 23 saves for the Blackhawks, who fell to 1-2-1.
Both sides had a handful of chances in the first period, but neither could convert until late in the frame.
Coronato gave Calgary a 1-0 lead at 16:01. Rasmus Andersson’s point shot bounced off the end boards, and Coronato collected it at the left side of the net and tried to stuff it in. His first attempt was snuffed by Chicago defenseman Alex Vlasic, but the forward stayed on the rebound to lift it into the net.
Foligno tied it at 1-1 just 10 seconds later. The Blackhawks captain won a faceoff in the offensive zone and passed back to Alec Martinez. Martinez quickly dished over to Seth Jones, whose point shot was tipped by Foligno driving by the front of the net.
Chicago pushed in the second, outshooting Calgary 8-1 by the midway point of the period, including a pair of short-handed chances. Jason Dickinson couldn’t get a shot off in close after quick passing on the rush, and moments later, Wolf stopped Andreas Athanasiou alone in front.
Kuzmenko put the Flames back in front with a power-play tally at 13:32 of the second period when he tipped Jonathan Huberdeau’s shot from above the left circle.
Both goaltenders had to be sharp in the early minutes of the third.
Wolf denied Connor Bedard’s snap shot from along the goal line 39 seconds into the frame. Shortly thereafter, Huberdeau had a chance to put the Flames up by two, getting inside on a drive to the net, but he couldn’t get a quality shot off, and Mrazek quickly covered.
Coronato scored an empty-net goal with 39 seconds remaining for the 3-1 final.
–Field Level Media
