In Chicago, the visiting Calgary Flames had an easy night of it on Monday in a 5-2 win over the Blackhawks.
Jacob Markstrom made 22 saves for the win.
“Really good game, I thought,” Markstrom said. “The start is something we’ve been talking a lot about, and I thought we were ready to go right off the hop. As a goalie, when you score a few goals, it’s nice. You know it’s not a 0-0 game or you’re not down. It’s always easier playing with the lead, and I think we’ve been great doing that all year. Then, I enjoy not having too many shots because that means we’re in the other end. So, the guys have been great all year with O-zone time and got to keep going.”
Johnny Gaudreau hit for a double for the Flames.
“I thought we had a good first period,” Gaudreau said. “Obviously quick couple of goals there. I think we could’ve had a few more. Thought their goalie played pretty well there in the first, helped them stick around a little bit and then in the second, [we] kind of let our foot off the gas, and the third they pushed us back a little bit. But we stuck with it and got the win.”
Calgary came out fast in the first period with 14 shots and took a 3-1 lead into the middle frame.
Chicago’s Tyler Johnson scored in the first period.
“I didn’t mind our effort,” Chicago coach Derek King said. “First period, we were sleepy. We spotted them a couple goals, but after that, I thought we were good. It wasn’t a 5-2 hockey game for us. A couple of empty-netters, but it wasn’t a 5-2 game. I thought we played well in the second and third.”
Chicago dropped to 25-40-11.
Alec Regula also scored for the Blackhawks.
Gaudreau, Dillon Dube , and Blake Coleman scored in the first period for the Flames.
“Playing with some good players, obviously,” Gaudreau said. “You don’t do that by yourself. Not only our line but our ‘D’s done a great job, jumping up in the rush throughout the year, making plays. A lot of help from those guys in the locker room.”
Gaudreau and Oliver Kylington scored late empty-net goals for the 5-2 final.
Kevin Lankinen made 30 saves in the loss.
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