Flames 3, Canucks 1
A feisty, fast affair on New Year’s Eve resulted in a 3-1 victory for the Flames over the visiting Canucks in a Pacific Division rivalry that’s alive and well.
Vancouver once again played without injured centre Elias Pettersson, likely out another week, and captain, D-man and top player Quinn Hughes, who’s considered week-to-week.
Connor Zary opened the scoring for the Flames at 14:31 of the 1st period off a rebound and scramble play that followed a Jakob Pelletier breakaway chance.
The game featured plenty of fights or near fights, sketchy hits, and physical play. No one backed down. It was a delightful trip back in time to before the NHL became “new and improved”.
At one point the Canucks had five players in the penalty box midway through the 2nd period. As a result, Calgary gained a 5-on-3 advantage for 1:18, but Vancouver killed it off.
Red hot Canucks winger Brock Boeser, with his 6th goal over the last four games, had tied the game on the power play with the redirection of a J.T. Miller shot-pass at 6:15 of the middle frame.
It was all the offence the Canucks could muster.
Calgary’s Nazem Kadri scored the game winner with a snipe from the slot at 9:18 of the 3rd period with Jonathan Huberdeau adding an empty-netter.
Vancouver hits Seattle on Thursday at 7 pm, looking for revenge for Saturday’s come-from-ahead 5-4 OT loss to the Kraken.
