Flames score late and often in 7-4 win over St Louis

In Calgary Monday night, Kris Versteeg, Johnny Gaudreau and Michael Frolik scored in the last five minutes of the game to break open a 4-4 tie and send the Flames to a 7-4 win over the St Louis Blues.

“It’s a big win for us,” Versteeg said. “We knew how good they’ve been playing. You don’t think you’re going to score that many goals against that team. It’s definitely big for us.”

Mike Smith got the start for the Flames but left the game after the first period with an injury.

Eddie Lack relieved Smith and made 13 saves for the win.

“It’s always different to practice,” Lack said. “You can just go through the repetitions over and over and over again, but you can’t really simulate the game. I’m hoping to get a little more consistency here.”

Mark Jankowski scored twice and Sam Bennett, Micheal Ferland added single markers for Calgary.

“We got what we deserved tonight,” St. Louis head coach Mike Yeo said. “We deserved to give up six. We were no good.”

Vladimir Tarasenko struck for two goals (10th), and Jaden Schwartz and Alexander Steen added goals in the loss.

“We’re going to have to reset everything and get back to the way we want to play, what we know is successful,” the Blues’ Paul Stastny said.

The win gave the Flames a 5-2-0 record on their seven-game homestand; they now play their next six games on the road.

“I think we are a good team. We have to act like it. I’ve talked to these guys about having some swag. When the real bullets are flying and it’s getting intense, that’s when you have to rise up. I thought it was a good response after that fourth goal for them,” Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan said after the win.

[WATCH: All Blues vs. Flames highlights]

Jake Allen made 30 saves in the loss; the Blues dropped to 13-5-1 on the season.

“No, we weren’t ready. We don’t follow another team’s style. We just weren’t ready to play, and that was evident right from the drop of the puck. We were very fortunate to tie the game up in the third period on a couple occasions — very, very fortunate,” Yeo said after the loss.