Flames stay red-hot, winning streak hits seven

Dougie Hamilton scored twice to lead the red-hot Calgary Flames to a 4-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday night, their seventh consecutive win.

Goalie Mike Smith stopped 38 shots for the Flames, who go into their bye week after running the table on a four-game road trip and vaulting into second place in the Pacific Division.

Johnny Gaudreau, who had a pair of helpers, is riding a seven-game point streak, in which he’s collected two goals and 11 assists, while Hamilton is on a five-game run with four goals and six points.

Flames captain Mark Giordano was handed a match penalty and game misconduct after hitting Sebastian Aho and knocking him from the game, which might result in a suspension.

In other NHL action, Phil Kessel’s second-period wrister beat Henrik Lundqvist and accounted for his 700th career NHL point and the decisive tally in Pittsburgh’s 5-2 home victory against New York.

Kessel’s goal, his 20th of the season, was the Penguins’ second goal in a span of 1:15 after Dominik Simon’s first tally of the season at 13:15 of the second tied the game at 2. Patric Hornqvist, Sidney Crosby and Carl Hagelin each added a goal for the Penguins, who rattled off their fourth straight victory and improved to 5-1-0 since the calendar flipped.

Also, Petr Mrazek stopped all 27 shots he faced for his second shutout of the season and the 12th of his career as the Detroit Red Wings cruised past the host Chicago Blackhawks 4-0.