Flames roast dreadful Ducks
Anaheim falls behind 4-0 after one period and can’t get any of its 44 shots past Talbot.
CALGARY 6, DUCKS 0
Mikael Backlund and Mark Jankowski scored two goals apiece, and Cam Talbot made 44 saves for his 21st career shutout in the Flames’ 6-0 victory over the Ducks on Thursday night at Honda Center.
The Ducks gave up four goals in the first period of their first game since their game against St. Louis was called off Tuesday night when Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester collapsed on the bench during the first period.
Talbot was superb in his first shutout of the season and his first victory since Jan. 11, making 18 saves in the second period alone.
Elias Lindholm, Oliver Kylington, Backlund and Jankowski all scored for Calgary during that one-sided opening period.
Lindholm extended his scoring streak to nine games, one shy of his career high, with his 25th goal.
John Gibson stopped 12 shots in the Ducks’ awful first period before Ryan Miller replaced him to start the second.
The Ducks’ season-best streak of five straight games with a point ended with just their second regulation loss in eight games.
Backlund got a shorthanded goal in the second period for his 14th career multi-goal game, his first since March 10.
The Flames finished their four-game trip with three wins. The Pacific Division rivals will meet again
Monday in Calgary.
Lindholm opened the scoring moments after a power play expired in the first period, finishing a scramble near the Ducks’ net by stuffing the puck past Gibson’s short side.
Lindholm, who isn’t related to Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm, is already approaching his career high of 27 goals last season with Calgary after spending his first five NHL campaigns with Carolina. He scored two goals Wednesday during Calgary’s loss to the last-place Kings.
Backlund extended his scoring streak to five games by converting a pass from Andrew Mangiapane.
Just 1:29 later, Kylington beat Gibson high to the glove side for the 22-year-old Swede’s second goal of the season and fifth of his NHL career.
Jankowski then put an unobstructed shot past Gibson’s glove while skating up the middle during an oddman rush 55 seconds before the first period ended.
Backlund got his shorthanded goal late in the second, and Jankowski added another goal off his own rebound in the third. He has scored five goals in his last seven games after failing to score in his first 38 this season.