<p>The Calgary Flames headed to Chicago hoping to continue their winning ways. It wasn&#8217;t always pretty, but they managed to grind out a hard-fought 2-1 road victory over the Blackhawks to stay undefeated in 2020.</p>
<p></p>
<h2><strong>The Rundown</strong></h2>
<p>The opening period was pretty one-sided, as the Blackhawks dictated the pace. the Flames defended reasonably well, but Chcago finally broke through late as Dominik Kubalik redirected an Adam Boqvist shot past Cam Talbot with 31.8 seconds left in the period to make it 1-0 Blackhawks.</p>
<p>Shots were 16-4 Blackhawks and scoring chances 9-7 Blackhawks in the opening period.</p>
<p>The Flames scored early in the second period, 14 seconds into the frame in fact. The Blackhawks couldn&#8217;t corral a Flames dump-in off the opening face-off. The puck blooped around to Elias Lindholm, who beat Corey Crawford to make it 1-1.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Game 5⃣0⃣0⃣ is going well for <a href="https://twitter.com/lindholmelias?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@lindholmelias</a>. <a href="https://t.co/AjLsp8NM7d">pic.twitter.com/AjLsp8NM7d</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHLFlames/status/1214738064242810880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2020</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The Flames pressed later in the period, including a lengthy five-on-three, but they couldn&#8217;t bury anything. But they took the lead late in the period, as Matthew Tkachuk jumped on an errant clearing pass, strode towards the net and then fed Lindholm for a one-timer to give the Flames a 2-1 lead.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">10/10 passing from <a href="https://twitter.com/TKACHUKycheese_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TKACHUKycheese_</a>. <a href="https://t.co/Yjfs8qUZBp">pic.twitter.com/Yjfs8qUZBp</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHLFlames/status/1214747915270402049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2020</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Shots were 14-12 Flames and scoring chances 15-8 Flames in the second period.</p>
<p>The Flames defended well in the third period, particularly on a late Chicago power play and held on for the victory.</p>
<p>Shots were 8-6 Flames and scoring chances 4-3 Blackhawks.</p>
<h2><strong>Why the Flames Won<br />
</strong></h2>
<p>The bounced back from a pretty mediocre first period and managed to build their game slowly but surely. They were a little bit better than Chicago when it counted.</p>
<h2><strong>Red Warrior</strong></h2>
<p>Let&#8217;s go with Lindholm, with the two goals, but the Flames also got strong contributions from Tkachuk and Talbot.</p>
<h2><strong>The Turning Point</strong></h2>
<p>Lindholm&#8217;s first goal was huge. The Flames couldn&#8217;t close out the first period with a clean sheet, but the early second period goal gave them a ton of momentum and energy that carried through most of the period. The go-ahead goal let the Flames win, but the first goal set the table.</p>
<h2><strong>The Numbers</strong></h2>
<p>Data via Natural Stat Trick. Percentage stats are 5v5.</p>
<table style="height: 484px">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 44px">
<td style="height: 44px"></td>
<td style="height: 44px">Corsi<br />
For%</td>
<td style="height: 44px">O-Zone<br />
Face-Off%</td>
<td style="height: 44px">Game<br />
Score</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Lucic</td>
<td style="height: 22px">66.7</td>
<td style="height: 22px">70.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.640</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Brodie</td>
<td style="height: 22px">64.7</td>
<td style="height: 22px">50.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">1.125</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Giordano</td>
<td style="height: 22px">64.5</td>
<td style="height: 22px">50.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.900</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Tkachuk</td>
<td style="height: 22px">63.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">30.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">2.400</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Gaudreau</td>
<td style="height: 22px">62.1</td>
<td style="height: 22px">40.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.725</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Bennett</td>
<td style="height: 22px">58.8</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.200</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Lindholm</td>
<td style="height: 22px">57.1</td>
<td style="height: 22px">30.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">1.940</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Monahan</td>
<td style="height: 22px">56.7</td>
<td style="height: 22px">40.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.350</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Ryan</td>
<td style="height: 22px">55.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">40.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.390</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Backlund</td>
<td style="height: 22px">55.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">25.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.155</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Dube</td>
<td style="height: 22px">51.7</td>
<td style="height: 22px">55.6</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.275</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Hamonic</td>
<td style="height: 22px">50.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">10.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.200</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Hanifin</td>
<td style="height: 22px">48.5</td>
<td style="height: 22px">10.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.400</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Kylington</td>
<td style="height: 22px">43.5</td>
<td style="height: 22px">50.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">-0.150</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Andersson</td>
<td style="height: 22px">42.9</td>
<td style="height: 22px">50.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">-0.075</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Jankowski</td>
<td style="height: 22px">42.1</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">-0.100</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Rinaldo</td>
<td style="height: 22px">31.3</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">-0.300</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Mangiapane</td>
<td style="height: 22px">28.6</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">-0.515</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Talbot</td>
<td style="height: 22px">&#8212;</td>
<td style="height: 22px">&#8212;</td>
<td style="height: 22px">2.350</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Rittich</td>
<td style="height: 22px">&#8212;</td>
<td style="height: 22px">&#8212;</td>
<td style="height: 22px">&#8212;</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2><strong>This and That</strong></h2>
<p>The Flames swept the dads and mentors trip.</p>
<p>The lines got dramatically shaken up after the first period.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flames?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Flames</a> have their forward lines in a blender again to start the second:</p>
<p>Lucic-Lindholm-Tkachuk<br />Gaudreau-Monahan-Dube<br />Backlund-Ryan-Bennett<br />Rinaldo-Jankowski-Mangiapane</p>
<p>1-1 tie with the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Blackhawks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Blackhawks</a> approaching the midway mark.</p>
<p>&mdash; Pat Steinberg (@Fan960Steinberg) <a href="https://twitter.com/Fan960Steinberg/status/1214740079362502656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2020</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nobody:</p>
<p>Matthew Tkachuk: <a href="https://t.co/JYu16T5uBh">pic.twitter.com/JYu16T5uBh</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Sammy Hudes (@SammyHudes) <a href="https://twitter.com/SammyHudes/status/1214746744480645120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2020</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<h2><strong>Up Next</strong></h2>
<p>The Flames (23-17-5) are headed home. They host the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night.</p>
<div><a href="https://marybrowns.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://marybrowns.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1569288834355000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFRMU_al15wbmv_rgGP3lyk57sTmQ">THE POST GAME IS SPONSORED BY MARY BROWN&#8217;S CHICKEN AND TATERS</a></div>
<div></div>
<div><a href="http://www.marybrowns.com"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-65759 size-large" src="https://flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/09/wrapup-1024x538.png" alt="" width="1024" height="538" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/09/wrapup.png 1024w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/09/wrapup-300x158.png 300w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/09/wrapup-768x404.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></div>
<div></div>
<div>Mary Brown’s Chicken &amp; Taters is no fuss, no fillers. We make our signature chicken and other menu items 100% fresh from scratch. After 50 years, we are still proudly keeping it authentic and perfectly seasoned as Mary Brown herself would have done it. We take our signature chicken with serious dedication but, hey, we still know how to have fun with it — just try our Chicken Pop-Ins. <a href="https://marybrowns.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><u>Visit us to explore all our menu options</u></a> and find a location near you.</div>

The Calgary Flames headed to Chicago hoping to continue their winning ways. It wasn't always pretty, but they managed to grind out a hard-fought 2-1 road victory over the Blackhawks to stay undefeated in 2020.


<h2><strong>The Rundown</strong></h2>
The opening period was pretty one-sided, as the Blackhawks dictated the pace. the Flames defended reasonably well, but Chcago finally broke through late as Dominik Kubalik redirected an Adam Boqvist shot past Cam Talbot with 31.8 seconds left in the period to make it 1-0 Blackhawks.

Shots were 16-4 Blackhawks and scoring chances 9-7 Blackhawks in the opening period.

The Flames scored early in the second period, 14 seconds into the frame in fact. The Blackhawks couldn't corral a Flames dump-in off the opening face-off. The puck blooped around to Elias Lindholm, who beat Corey Crawford to make it 1-1.

https://twitter.com/NHLFlames/status/1214738064242810880

The Flames pressed later in the period, including a lengthy five-on-three, but they couldn't bury anything. But they took the lead late in the period, as Matthew Tkachuk jumped on an errant clearing pass, strode towards the net and then fed Lindholm for a one-timer to give the Flames a 2-1 lead.

https://twitter.com/NHLFlames/status/1214747915270402049

Shots were 14-12 Flames and scoring chances 15-8 Flames in the second period.

The Flames defended well in the third period, particularly on a late Chicago power play and held on for the victory.

Shots were 8-6 Flames and scoring chances 4-3 Blackhawks.
<h2><strong>Why the Flames Won
</strong></h2>
The bounced back from a pretty mediocre first period and managed to build their game slowly but surely. They were a little bit better than Chicago when it counted.
<h2><strong>Red Warrior</strong></h2>
Let's go with Lindholm, with the two goals, but the Flames also got strong contributions from Tkachuk and Talbot.
<h2><strong>The Turning Point</strong></h2>
Lindholm's first goal was huge. The Flames couldn't close out the first period with a clean sheet, but the early second period goal gave them a ton of momentum and energy that carried through most of the period. The go-ahead goal let the Flames win, but the first goal set the table.
<h2><strong>The Numbers</strong></h2>
Data via Natural Stat Trick. Percentage stats are 5v5.
<table style="height: 484px">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 44px">
<td style="height: 44px"></td>
<td style="height: 44px">Corsi
For%</td>
<td style="height: 44px">O-Zone
Face-Off%</td>
<td style="height: 44px">Game
Score</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Lucic</td>
<td style="height: 22px">66.7</td>
<td style="height: 22px">70.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.640</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Brodie</td>
<td style="height: 22px">64.7</td>
<td style="height: 22px">50.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">1.125</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Giordano</td>
<td style="height: 22px">64.5</td>
<td style="height: 22px">50.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.900</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Tkachuk</td>
<td style="height: 22px">63.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">30.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">2.400</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Gaudreau</td>
<td style="height: 22px">62.1</td>
<td style="height: 22px">40.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.725</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Bennett</td>
<td style="height: 22px">58.8</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.200</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Lindholm</td>
<td style="height: 22px">57.1</td>
<td style="height: 22px">30.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">1.940</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Monahan</td>
<td style="height: 22px">56.7</td>
<td style="height: 22px">40.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.350</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Ryan</td>
<td style="height: 22px">55.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">40.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.390</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Backlund</td>
<td style="height: 22px">55.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">25.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.155</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Dube</td>
<td style="height: 22px">51.7</td>
<td style="height: 22px">55.6</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.275</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Hamonic</td>
<td style="height: 22px">50.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">10.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.200</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Hanifin</td>
<td style="height: 22px">48.5</td>
<td style="height: 22px">10.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.400</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Kylington</td>
<td style="height: 22px">43.5</td>
<td style="height: 22px">50.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">-0.150</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Andersson</td>
<td style="height: 22px">42.9</td>
<td style="height: 22px">50.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">-0.075</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Jankowski</td>
<td style="height: 22px">42.1</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">-0.100</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Rinaldo</td>
<td style="height: 22px">31.3</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">-0.300</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Mangiapane</td>
<td style="height: 22px">28.6</td>
<td style="height: 22px">0.0</td>
<td style="height: 22px">-0.515</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Talbot</td>
<td style="height: 22px">--</td>
<td style="height: 22px">--</td>
<td style="height: 22px">2.350</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px">
<td style="height: 22px">Rittich</td>
<td style="height: 22px">--</td>
<td style="height: 22px">--</td>
<td style="height: 22px">--</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2><strong>This and That</strong></h2>
The Flames swept the dads and mentors trip.

The lines got dramatically shaken up after the first period.

https://twitter.com/Fan960Steinberg/status/1214740079362502656

https://twitter.com/SammyHudes/status/1214746744480645120
<h2><strong>Up Next</strong></h2>
The Flames (23-17-5) are headed home. They host the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night.
<div><a href="https://marybrowns.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://marybrowns.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1569288834355000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFRMU_al15wbmv_rgGP3lyk57sTmQ">THE POST GAME IS SPONSORED BY MARY BROWN'S CHICKEN AND TATERS</a></div>
<div></div>
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<div></div>
<div>Mary Brown’s Chicken &amp; Taters is no fuss, no fillers. We make our signature chicken and other menu items 100% fresh from scratch. After 50 years, we are still proudly keeping it authentic and perfectly seasoned as Mary Brown herself would have done it. We take our signature chicken with serious dedication but, hey, we still know how to have fun with it — just try our Chicken Pop-Ins. <a href="https://marybrowns.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><u>Visit us to explore all our menu options</u></a> and find a location near you.</div>

Post-Game Wrap-Up: Flames beat Chicago for their dads

Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf (32) makes a save against Nashville Predators center Gustav Nyquist (14) during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome

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