In Calgary, the Flames scored four times in the opening period to take a 4-2 lead on Monday night over the Los Angeles Kings, then held off a later surge from the Kings for a 6-5 win.
Jacob Markstrom made 24 saves in the Flames win.
Elias Lindholm and Tyler Toffoli scored for the Flames.
“We found a way to win,” Toffoli said. “I don’t think it’s the way we wanted it to happen, but at the end of the day we’ll take the two points. Division rival, really good team playing really good hockey. It was a really good test for us tonight.”
Calgary improved to 7-6-2.
Jonathan Huberdeau staked the Flames to a 1-0 lead. in the first period.
“To get a goal, it’s been a while,” Huberdeau said. “It’s a good team win. That’s all that matters.”
Arthur Kaliyev scored the first of his goals on the night to get the Kings even at 1-1.
“We played some pretty shoddy hockey today,” Los Angeles coach Todd McLellan said. “To me, I think that the physical part of the game was potentially there early, but the mental part didn’t exist at all. And then you get a little desperate. It starts going your way, but it’s too little too late.”
LA’s Victor Arvidsson and Calgary’s Andrew Mangiapane traded goals for a 2-2 tie.
The Flames took the 4-2 lead on goals from Brett Ritchie Tyler Toffoli.
“We need everybody going, rolling four lines and three sets of [defense],” Toffoli said. “When we play that way, we kind of come in waves. That’s how we’re kind of built and how we’re successful. We’re on the right path. We didn’t complete the game, something for us to work on, but we’ll take the two points.”
Lindholm scored in the middle frame for a 5-2 lead, but Kevin FIala replied with a strike to get the Kings back to within 5-3.
Adam Ruzicka scored what would prove to be the winner when he gave the Flames a 6-3 lead in the second period.
“I think we played one of our worst games defensively,” Los Angeles forward Phillip Danault said. “We gave up too many rushes. We did that to ourselves. We lost the game in the first period. We weren’t sharp enough mentally.”
Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe scored in the third period to put pressure on the Flames but time ran out.
“We didn’t roll over. We didn’t quit,” McLellan said. “The fact that we were in that situation was pretty unique. We were a shot away from at least getting a point on that night. The goaltender made a real good save. But I don’t think we should lose sight about how this game evolved just because we fought back and made it 6-5. There’s a lot of things we have to fix.”
Jonathan Quick made 23 saves in the Kings loss.
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