In Denver Saturday, the Calgary Flames ended a six-game roadie with goals from Dougie Hamilton, Micheal Ferland and Mikael Backlund and defeated the Colorado Avalanche, 3-2.
Rookie goalie, David Rittich, made 24 saves for the win, his first NHL win.
“I feel good about the win,” Rittich said . “The guys played unbelievably. They blocked every single shot. It was good for me.
“I think it was a good game. Guys were all excited. Guys played well and helped me and allowed only one shot at times. I felt great and I don’t think I could say more.”
Rittich was a call-up from the Stockton Heat of the AHL.
“It was nice for him,” Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan said. “He’s a Czech guy, so I don’t know if he’s had a cowboy hat on before. He looked pretty good. It’s just great energy to see him so excited.”
The Avs’ goals were scored by Nikita Zadorov and Mikko Rantanen.
“We just weren’t committed and willing to play the right way tonight in order to get the job done,” Avs head coach Jared Bednar said. “Especially when you don’t have your legs it makes it more important that you have to do the right things with and without the puck. We had half our guys doing that and some of the other guys went off on their own. What it turns into is sloppy hockey and turnovers all over the place and scoring chances against.”
Zadorov scored for Colorado with just under three minutes left in the game but the Flames held on for the win.
“We scratched and clawed back into that game,” Bednar said. “Then we have a couple shifts back to back where we’re coughing up pucks in the middle of the ice, and that’s a team that’s going to make you pay.”
[WATCH: All Flames vs. Avalanche highlights]
Jonathan Bernier took the loss on 25 saves.
“I thought we should have had the advantage,” Bernier said. “We were in bed pretty early last night. They were still playing when we got home. They’re a good team, but we could have been a little more hungry tonight.”
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