Post-Game: Flames finish strong in Chicago

The Calgary Flames have had challenges this season with strong starts. But they’ve seemingly always finished strong, something evident at the United Center on Monday night. The Flames played two iffy periods, then had a strong third period en route to a 4-3 road win over the Chicago Blackhawks.

The opening period was fast-paced and neither team played a lot of defense. Johnny Gaudreau opened the scoring off a goal-mouth scramble, as Collin Delia ended up way out of his crease to cut down an angle, allowing Gaudreau to sneak in and deposit a rebound to make it 1-0 Flames.

But that lead would not last, as Patrick Kane beat David Rittich with a back-hander from a bad angle that careened in off the goaltender’s shoulder short-side to tie the game at 1-1. It was a heckuva shot and Rittich had the post sealed off down low, so it’s hard to fault him on the goal.

Shots were 16-12 Flames and scoring chances were 11-10 Flames in the first period.

Chicago took the lead early in the second period, as the Blackhawks took advantage of some scrambly Flames defensive zone coverage. Kane fed Alex DeBrincat low in the offensive zone and the one-timer beat Rittich to make it 2-1 Blackhawks.

But the Flames kept pressing. They generated three consecutive power plays (one was shortened, as it followed a Blackhawks power play) and eventually got a big goal. Off a rapid-fire bit of passing, Matthew Tkachuk fed Sean Monahan in the slot for a nifty redirect to tie the game at 2-2.

Shots were 12-9 Blackhawks and chances 10-3 Blackhawks in the second.

The Flames took the lead for good in the opening minute of the third period. Off a broken play and a line change at the benches, Mark Giordano banked the puck off the center ice boards to spring Gaudreau for a breakaway. His five-hole shot squeaked through Delia to make it 3-2 Flames.

With Mikael Backlund in the box late, Garnet Hathaway added an empty net goal to make it 4-2 Flames. That proved to be a good thing, as Brandon Saad beat Rittich over the shoulder with a quick shot that bounced out of the net to make it a 4-3 game. But that was as close as Chicago would get.

Shots were 18-11 Flames and scoring chances 16-7 Flames in the third period.

Bill Peters has used the phrase “gave us a chance to build a game” (and various derivatives) to describe his goaltending a lot this season. The Flames were pretty porous defensively early on, being out-chanced 20-14 through two periods (and giving up some really strong chances). But Rittich was very sharp.

The Flames found their game in the third period and run roughshod over the Blackhawks for the final 20 minutes. If not for Delia’s strong play in the third, the game wouldn’t have been close.

We’re splitting this one: Rittich was dynamite in the first two periods, while Gaudreau had a pair of goals. Both gentlemen were difference-makers.

Let’s go with the late third period power play goal. The Flames needed a goal and they got a big one which sent them into the locker room tied rather than down a goal and needing to chase.

The Flames are now 6-0-2 when entering the third period tied. Only one other team (Winnipeg) has yet to lose in regulation in that situation.

Hathaway’s shorthanded goal was the Flames’ 14th of the season.

The Flames (27-13-4) fly home tonight. They’ll host the Colorado Avalanche at the Saddledome on Wednesday night.