Sabres - The Buffalo News
National Hockey League
Calgary 5, Chicago 2
When: 8:00 PM ET, Monday, April 18, 2022
Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
Referees: Tom Chmielewski, Kendrick Nicholson
Linesmen: Devin Berg, CJ Murray
Attendance: 18523

Johnny Gaudreau scored twice, including the game-sealing empty-netter, and Blake Coleman and Oliver Kylington each had a goal and an assist to lift the visiting Calgary Flames to a 5-2 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday night.

Calgary (47-20-9, 103 points) won for the seventh time in eight games to extend its lead atop the Pacific Division. The Flames jumped ahead of the idle St. Louis Blues to take possession of second place in the Western Conference.

Chicago (25-40-11, 61 points) was outshot 35-24 but stiffened after a sluggish start, killing three penalties while challenging Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom down the stretch.

Alec Regula scored his first career goal at 12:54 of the second period to bring the Blackhawks within 3-2, but Chicago was unable to get closer. The Flames scored a pair of empty-net goals in the final 1:32.

A 3-1, first-period surge provided Calgary with early control. Dillon Dube opened the scoring just 22 seconds into the game, redirecting a shot off an offensive-zone faceoff past Chicago goaltender Kevin Lankinen.

Gaudreau made it 2-0 Flames 6:01 later, stickhandling around the zone before beating Lankinen with a wrist shot from the left circle. The goal marked Gaudreau's 600th career point.

The Blackhawks drew to within a goal 43 seconds after that, as Tyler Johnson corralled a rebound in front of the net and sent the puck past Markstrom.

It was Johnson's first goal since Oct. 24 after he missed more than four months of the season with a neck injury.

Coleman netted what stood up as the game-winner at 14:41 of the first, redirecting a shot from the point into the net.

Matthew Tkachuk had two assists for Calgary.

The Flames outscored the Blackhawks 15-5 to sweep the three-game season series. Calgary has won 10 of its past 12 games against Chicago and boasts a six-game winning streak at United Center.

Chicago's MacKenzie Entwistle sustained a right shoulder injury in the first period and did not return. Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews later went to the locker room after being hit in the face, but he was back in the lineup after receiving stitches.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Calgary   Chicago
Johnny Gaudreau 2 Points Tyler Johnson 1
Johnny Gaudreau 2 Goals Tyler Johnson 1
Matthew Tkachuk 2 Assists Alex DeBrincat 1
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Jacob Markstrom .917 Save Percentage Kevin Lankinen .909
Jacob Markstrom 22 Saves Kevin Lankinen 30
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Calgary 35 5 0-3 2-2 6 27
Chicago 24 2 0-2 3-3 8 31
Upcoming Games
  • Chicago will play their next game on the road against Arizona. The Blackhawks have a W/L % of .269 after a win and .360 after a loss.
  • Calgary will play their next game on the road against Nashville. The Flames have a W/L % of .638 after a win and .586 after a loss.