Post-Game: Flames score early (and often) against Vegas

The Calgary Flames have trailed often this season. They didn’t trail at all on Monday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome, scoring early and often en route to a 7-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Flames generated an early power play and were rewarded. Rasmus Andersson was hauled down by Tomas Nosek 2:03 into the first period. On the ensuing advantage, Matthew Tkachuk received a nice pass from Johnny Gaudreau and scored with a wrister from the high slot to make it 1-0.

A few minutes later, Elias Lindholm carried the puck into the Vegas zone. Instead of forcing a shot, he waited and made a pass to Sean Monahan, who fed a trailing Gaudreau in the slot for a wrist shot that beat Malcolm Subban to make it 2-0 Flames.

A few minutes later, Travis Hamonic drove into the Vegas zone but lost the puck. A Golden Knights defender bobbled it long enough for Gaudreau to grab the loose puck, deke around a defender and feed Monahan for a one-timer that made it 3-0.

A few minutes after that, the Flames passed around the Vegas zone. TJ Brodie’s slap shot with a Mikael Backlund screen eluded Subban (who probably didn’t see it) to make it 4-0.

A few minutes after that, Michael Frolik drew a penalty by being hauled down in the neutral zone. On the ensuing power play Gaudreau passed it to Tkachuk. Tkachuk’s one-timer hit the post, but it rebounded right to Monahan, who fished it out of his skates and beat Subban to make it 5-0.

Shots were 14-6 Flames and scoring chances 6-5 Flames in the first period.

Tkachuk made it 6-0 just 24 seconds into the second period, striding into the Vegas zone and leaning into a wrist shot that beat Subban.

After Johnny Gaudreau drew a roughing call from Jonathan Marchessault, the second power play unit took a turn. Derek Ryan’s shot from the top of the faceoff circle was redirected by Sam Bennett to make it 7-0.

Shots were 10-7 Flames and scoring chances 10-6 Flames.

Nick Holden broke up David Rittich’s shutout bid early in the third period with a cannon of a slap shot from the point that found the top corner to cut Calgary’s lead to 7-1. Max Pacioretty jammed in a rebound seven seconds into a Travis Hamonic penalty to draw Vegas to a 7-2 deficit.

That was as close as the Golden Knights got, though, and the Flames held on for a emphatic victory. Shots were 9-8 Vegas and chances were 8-5 Vegas in the third period.

The Golden Knight were not good tonight. They were shoddy defensively early, gave up a ton of good chances, and took too many early penalties. But credit where it’s due: when Vegas gave the Flames golden offensive chances, they buried them. Sometimes teams get chances and find ways not to score. The Flames found ways to score early and often, and ultimately they didn’t end up having to expend very much energy to capture two points.

Admittedly, though, they did take their foot off the gas a bit late in the second period and early third period. But their defensive play was generally solid and they merely fore-checked with a bit less intensity.

Let’s go with Tkachuk, who had four primary points and was obviously feeling it tonight. But few Flames players had bad games in this one. It was a pretty solid team effort.

And a stick-tap to Subban, who was absolutely hung out to dry by his hockey team but still made some big saves. It could’ve been a lot uglier if he hadn’t been dialed in.

The 2-0 goal was a thing of beauty, a very sharp piece of awareness and passing by the top line. It was also a sign that Vegas’ defenders were not feeling it on this occasion. It only got worse for the Golden Knights from there.

Gaudreau’s assist on the first Flames goal was his 309th career NHL point, moving him past Craig Conroy into sole possession of 19th on the franchise scoring list.

Tkachuk and Gaudreau both tied their career highs for points in a single game, each with four points.

The Flames (12-8-1) have a day off tomorrow. After that, it’s a visit from the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday night at the Saddledome.