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Flames Post-Game: Flames smother Jackets for shutout win
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Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Ryan Pike
By Ryan Pike
Dec 3, 2024, 23:44 ESTUpdated: Dec 3, 2024, 23:46 EST
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The Calgary Flames returned home from a clunky four game road trip on Tuesday when they hosted the Columbus Blue Jackets. While the game was preceded by an emotional tribute to Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, the game itself was fairly low event and sedate.
The Flames played a rock-solid three periods of hockey en route to a 3-0 victory over Columbus.

The rundown

Columbus appeared to open the scoring in the first period, as Zach Werenski beat Dan Vladar short-side off the rush. However, the Flames challenged the goal and it was called off due to the play being off-side.
First period shots were 9-6 Flames. Via Natural Stat Trick, five-on-five scoring chances were 10-6 Flames (high-danger chances were 6-0 Flames).
Midway through the second period, Brayden Pachal’s stick was hacked in half, leading to a power play. On said power play, after some decent puck movement, Rasmus Andersson fired a slap shot from Elvis Merzlikins’ right that beat the netminder to give the Flames a 1-0 lead.
Columbus didn’t register their first shot on goal in the second frame until 17:51 into the period.
Second period shots were 8-3 Flames. Five-on-five scoring chances were 8-3 Flames (high-danger chances were 4-0 Flames).
Midway through the third period it appeared that the Flames had scored a second goal after Mikael Backlund deflected an Andersson point shot into the Columbus net. However, this time Columbus challenged for the play being off-side and the goal was waved off.
Kevin Bahl scored his first with the Flames on a late third period power play, which wasn’t challenged (and therefore counted) to give the Flames a 2-0 lead.
Yegor Sharangovich scored an empty-netter in the game’s waning moments to give the Flames a 3-0 victory.

Why the Flames won

Give the Flames credit: they did what they needed to do in order to get a victory. Were they picturesque? Nah. Were they dazzling? Nah. Was the game especially wild and entertaining? Not really. But the Flames played a structured, workmanlike three periods of ice hockey, and they were the better of the two teams on this evening.

Red Warrior

Let’s give the nod to Andersson, who scored the first Flames goal and looked really engaged throughout this outing.

Turning point

In a game with two goals scored, we’ve gotta go with the first Flames goal. But you could also point to how dominant the Flames were in the middle frame; Columbus didn’t really have a chance to get going.

This and that

This game featured the season debuts for Walker Duehr and Jakob Pelletier in the Flames’ lineup. Meanwhile, Andrei Kuzmenko was a healthy scratch for the first time this season.

Up next

The Flames (13-9-4) are back in action on Thursday night when they host the St. Louis Blues.

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