In Calgary, the Flames rode a three-goal first period to a 4-1 win over the New York Islanders on Friday night.
Milan Lucic, Blake Coleman, and Nikita Zadorov scored for the Flames to stake them to a 3-0 lead.
“We’re climbing up in the standings,” Coleman said. “We’re scratching and clawing to keep moving up here. You’ve got to win home games. You’ve got to have a good home record to put yourself in a good position down the stretch. Just another one to check off.”
Jacob Markstrom made 23 saves in the Calgary win.
Calgary has won six of their nine matches.
“It was a good start for the group, I thought,” Coleman said. “Six shots in the first isn’t ideal, but capitalized on our opportunities, which has been a bit of a miss for us in some of these games. Good to get rewarded on a few chances. Obviously, that gave us the start we needed.”
The Flames improved to 19-14-7.
“It was huge because I think at that point, especially first and second breakaway, I don’t think we were having a very good period at the time and he kept it a two-goal lead going into the third,” Lucic said. “It’s good to see him finding confidence in his game as well, and we need him to be good every night to give us a chance to win.”
Zach Parise was the lone striker for the Isles, his goal stopped the first period run by the Flames to send the game to the second period, 3-1, to Calgary.
“I don’t think by any means we felt like we were getting outplayed,” Parise said. “We had our looks in the second, couple breakaways, couple chances in the slot. Had some chances in the third again, didn’t convert.
“I don’t think as a whole we played that bad of a game. I think we played hard, we competed. We need the result, but we didn’t get it.”
The Islanders dropped to 22-17-2.
Nazem Kadri scored with seven minutes gone in the third period for the 4-1 final.
“I did not call bank, but that’s where I was shooting it,” Kadri said. “Luckily it went in. Big goal for us.”
Mathew Barzal missed the game for New York with an apparent lower body injury.
“I think right now there’s not much we can do about tonight,” Islanders forward Josh Bailey said. “There [were] some good things. Obviously, not the result we’re looking for, go back home.
“We’ll reset here and then we’ve got a little homestand, and we want to make the most of that. Get some rest here the next couple days, first and foremost.”
Semyon Varlamov made 17 saves in the Isles loss.
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