Flames Visual Recap 30: Calgary's locks in first win of 2022 with five goals in Chicago

The Calgary Flames opened 2022 with a huge win in Chicago, which was meant to be first game of a four-game road trip. However, with postponements of home games, the Flames find themselves on a two-game win streak to start their now five-game road trip instead.

First period

The Flames surrendered the first goal of the game midway through the first period when Alex DeBrincat scored on one-time pass right in the slot. However, the Flames responded shortly after as Matthew Tkachuk perfectly directed a feed from Johnny Gaudreau right past Arvid Soderblom, who was starting his first NHL game after making his first NHL appearance in relief of Collin Delia the night prior.

Second period

In the second period, the Flames’ special teams got to work. Elias Lindholm scored on a one-timer feed from Sean Monahan on the power play midway through the frame to secure the Flames’ first lead of the game.

Then towards the end of the period, Trevor Lewis scored a nifty backhanded shorthanded goal after receiving a pass from Blake Coleman. The Flames had entered the offensive zone on the penalty kill and rather than pulling back, Coleman opted to play the puck and found Lewis open to receive the puck for a one-on-one against Soderblom from in close. The score was 3–1 for Calgary after 40 minutes.

Third period

The Flames were looking to lock down the game in the final period and they did a fairly good job at limiting the Blackhawks’ scoring chances. With less than eight minutes to go, Dillon Dube was awarded a penalty shot but was unable to capitalise on the opportunity.

As the game was winding down, Chicago pulled Soderblom for the extra attacker and Oliver Kylington was able to score on the empty net from his own blueline. As Chicago put Soderblom back in the net to close out the game, Gaudreau and Tkachuk were sprung on a two-on-one play. Gaudreau opted to hold onto the puck and shot a laser top shelf to add a goal to his two assists on the night. This would be the second time this season that Gaudreau added a goal after the Flames scored on the empty net, having done so earlier this season against the Philadelphia Flyers as well.

5–1 Calgary, final score! Game visualisations are below!