Flames Visual Recap 20: Flames return home and pick up big win against Chicago

After completing their season-long seven-game road trip over the weekend, the Calgary Flames returned home to the Scotiabank Saddledome to face the Chicago Blackhawks. Always a tough game to play after coming home from a long trip, the Flames looked to continue their hot start to the season and pick up their first regulation win against a Western Conference opponent.

Game recap

The first two minutes of this game were extremely eventful. Just 1:01 into the first period, Blake Coleman delivered a punishing hit on Chicago star Alex DeBrincat, prompting Kirby Dach to confront Coleman. The two dropped the mitts and fought, Coleman giving up five inches to Dach. It was a spirited bout, and was just the start of an incredible night for Coleman.

Just 18 seconds later, Dillon Dube came speeding down the left side boards and ripped a wrister past Marc-Andre Fleury to give the Flames a one goal lead. Brandon Hagel scored the equalizer for Chicago midway through the frame, but Milan Lucic scored his fifth of the season to restore the Flames’ one goal lead. The tide of the game was fairly back and forth for the first half of the period, but the Flames really pulled away in the latter half, dominating possession and throwing a ton of pucks at Fleury. They headed to the locker room up 2–1.

In the second period, Chicago drew even off an unfortunate turnover from Jacob Markstrom. He misplayed the puck by his net and gave it right to Reese Johnson who buried his first of the season. It was all tied up heading into the third period.

The Flaems were very stingy in the third. They gave Chicago almost nothing in the entire period, and ended up with a 21–9 shots edge in the third period when it was all said and done. With just over five and a half minutes to play in regulation, Matthew Tkachuk banked a puck off Seth Jones‘ skate and over Fleury’s shoulder to give the Flames the late lead. Chicago couldn’t tie it for a third time, and Calgary added empty net goals from Trevor Lewis and Johnny Gaudreau to cap the game at 5–2.

The Flames now sit at 12–3–5 on the season and will finally have a few days off before their next game on Saturday night against the Winnipeg Jets.

Check out the game visualizations below!