CALGARY – Sean Monahan’s first two-goal game of the season helped the Calgary Flames fall to a surprise 5-1 win over the NHL leading Florida Panthers on Tuesday.
To make it 3–1 after scoring a power-play goal on a deflection at 16:03 of the second period, Monahan placed the game in third place, making it 5–1 at 6:43, taking a drop pass from Johnny. Goudreau and neatly beat goalkeeper Spencer Knight on a step closer.
With Rasmus Andersen in his first season, Matthew Tkachuk and Blake Coleman also scored for Calgary (18–11–6), breaking a four-game losing streak and winning on home ice for the first time since 29 November. Of.
The Flames went 2-7-1 on the night in their last 10 matches.
Sam Bennett scored the only goal for Florida (26-8-5), with a four-game winning streak and a nine-game point-streak (8-0-1).
The next outing for both teams will be in Edmonton with the Panthers second stop on a five-game road trip on Thursday. Calgary was not back in action until Saturday when the Flames play the Oilers at Rogers Place.
Markström, who has conceded four or more goals in four of his last five starts, made 28 stops to improve to 13-8-5.
After starting the final seven games, Sergei Bobrovsky took Knight’s leave and Knight made his first start since December 30. Knight made 26 saves. His record falls to 7-5-2.
Calgary got off to a quick start, receiving four minutes of power play into the game and taking just 23 seconds to take the advantage with Andersen knocking in his own rebound from the slot.
The Flames extended their lead to 2-0 earlier at 11:36. A stretch of prolonged pressure by Calgary’s newly formed second line resulted in Coleman’s seventh goal, with assists going to classmates Andrew Mangiapen and Mikel Backlund.
But Bennett ran 12:36 in his second in Calgary to cut Florida’s deficit in half. Bennett was traded to Florida before the trade deadline after recording 402 games in six seasons with Calgary last season. He’s been a revelation since scoring 22 goals in 40 games for the Panthers.
The power play was crucial for him to strike twice on three occasions after entering the game 0-for-10 during the losing streak.
Goudreau played his first four-assist game on home ice and only the second game of his career. Takachuk also continued his aggressive hot streak with three points. He has 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in his last eight matches.
Although the Panthers have the league’s best home record of 21-3-0, they haven’t had as much success away from the FLA Live Arena, which is now 5-5-5.
For the Flames, they have struggled similarly at Saddledome, securing their first win since 29 November. They are 5-4-4 a year.
notes: Goudreau’s only other four-assist game was in Nashville on February 21, 2017… It was the first time Florida had scored a point this season with a defender… returning to the Panthers lineup for the first time since Mason Marchante. Happened January 1. An assist gave him a five-game streak.
