Every NHL season has its own little quirks. The 2018-19 season has seen its share of big first period outbursts. Sunday night, that trend continued as the Calgary Flames potted four goals in the opening frame to send them to a 7-2 win over the Blues, in St Louis.
Johnny Gaudreau and Alan Quine each struck for two goals in the victory.
“I think our special teams carried the play tonight,” Giordano said. “That was a big difference in the game. We had a real good first period, we were moving it. After that, it’s tough because teams take a lot of chances. I thought they had a good cycle going, but we kept them to the outside for the most part.”
David Rittich made 26 saves to get the win as the Flames improved to 22-10-2.
Oskar Sundqvist and Tyler Bozak scored for St Louis.
“The start killed us. We didn’t come out with jump and ready for them and they’re a team that’s playing loose now. They’ve won a lot of hockey games. They got to us early and we didn’t have the jump needed,” the Blues’ Ryan O’Reilly said.
Elias Lindholm, Matthew Tkachuk and Mark Giordano also scored in the Flames’ win.
“We’ve been lucky to come up with that jump (first period scoring) often this year,” Tkachuk said. “We’ve had a couple five goals, a couple three goals, four goals, or whatever. It’s nice to get off to that start.”
St Louis dropped to 12-15-4.
“You’ve got to go out there with some pride and jump back in the game,” Blues head coach Craig Berube said. “I thought in the second, we did a little bit. We pushed and ended up getting a couple goals. In the third, there was nothing, and you’ve got to have a lot more pride than that. If you don’t have more pride than that, then you’re not going to go anywhere.”
[WATCH: All Flames vs. Blues highlights]
Jake Allen started in the Blues’ net and was given the hook after surrendering four goals and making just 12 saves.
“The first period. We just didn’t come out,” Blues forward Pat Maroon said. “I don’t know why we didn’t come out. It’s been an ongoing thing all year. It’s been disappointing.
“We had a chance to move up in the standings and a chance to gain playoff position and we come out in the first period flat-footed. I don’t have answers anymore. It’s just kind of embarrassing, to be honest with you.”
Jordan Binnington, who made 10 saves in relief.
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