Post-Game: Flames hit century mark against Canucks

The Calgary Flames went into Vancouver with an opportunity to move a step closer to a division title. They were full marks in a 3-1 victory over the Canucks at Rogers Arena.

The opening period was played with great pace and very few whistles. The Flames opened the scoring off some nice back-checking and a heck of a pass. The fourth line lost a face-off, but they retrieved the puck before it could leave the zone. Derek Ryan drove the net, then passed to a driving Mark Giordano for a redirect past Jacob Markstrom to make it a 1-0 Flames lead.

Shots were 12-6 Flames and scoring chances were also 12-6 Flames in the first period.

The Flames doubled their lead in the middle frame. A Canucks outlet pass was intercepted in the neutral zone by Giordano, who skated into the zone and fed Garnet Hathaway in the slot. Hathaway chipped a backhand shot that blooped over top of Markstrom’s pad to make it 2-0 Flames.

Shots were 10-9 Flames and chances 7-5 Flames in the second.

The third period opened with Johnny Gaudreau taking a tripping penalty, leading to a brief four-on-three Canucks power play. Brock Boeser beat Smith with a rising shot to cut the Flames’ lead to 2-1.

But the Flames restored their two goal lead off another pair of good individual efforts. Giordano rushed to hold in a puck that was leaving the Canucks zone, then fed it to Andrew Mangiapane in the slot for a bang-bang one-timer that beat Markstrom to make it a 3-1 game.

The Canucks pressed a bit later in the period, but to no avail. The Flames held on for a 3-1 victory. Shots were 13-9 Canucks and scoring chances 6-4 Flames in the final period.

The Flames had a pretty solid game. They didn’t shy away from physicality, they didn’t make a ton of mistakes with the puck, and they out-scored the Canucks 3-0 at even strength. When a team is that sharp on the road, they’re in a good position on most nights.

Giordano was superb. He had a goal and two primary assists, making a series of strong offensive and defensive plays and generally being what he’s been all season for the Flames.

Mangiapane’s laser beam of a goal gave the Flames a two goal cushion in the third period and some wiggle room in case the plucky Canucks were able to get a bounce.

The Flames now have 101 points, the most they’ve had in a single season since 2005-06.

The Flames (47-21-7) head back to Calgary tonight. They host the Los Angeles Kings at the Saddledome on Monday evening.