Markstrom, Calgary Flames shut out Philadelphia Flyers 4-0 for sixth straight win – Calgary | The Canadian News

Sean Monahan has no complaints about his reduced role this season as the Calgary Flames recite wins.

Monahan had a goal and an assist and Jacob Markstrom made 20 saves as the Calgary Flames shut out the Philadelphia Flyers 4-0 on Saturday night for their sixth straight victory.

Matthew Tkachuk, Johnny Gaudreau and Mikael Backlund (empty net) also scored for Calgary (6-1-1).

While centering Calgary’s fourth row with veteran wingers Milan Lucic and Trevor Lewis has been a major change for Monahan, the Flames’ third-highest-paid player at $ 6.3 million has remained in the most important power play unit in the world. team. Against the Flyers, that’s where he did his damage, scoring the eventual winner and setting up Tkachuk’s sure goal in the third.

“It’s a team game and when you’re part of a team, you have to accept your role and do the best job you can,” said Monahan, a three-time 30-goal scorer. “We have a good team, we are winning games and I have no complaints.”

Coach Darryl Sutter is pleased with the way Monahan has handled his role at the club.

“It was amazing,” Sutter said. “He has a great attitude and works hard. I’ve said it many times, even in the locker room, we are not a very heavy lineup. We have to spread the word and get everyone to accept their role and then go from there. “

The Flames were coming off a five-game road trip in which they were never behind and won every game by a combined score of 21-7.

“It’s a good start. We’re in a good position so far, but I don’t think anyone is happy,” Markstrom said. “Everyone who was here last year remembers that bitter taste from last season. It was not funny at all. Especially not winning hockey games. So everyone is hungry. “

Coming off a 45-save shutout over Pittsburgh on Thursday, Markstrom earned his third shutout in his last four starts. The 31-year-old Swede improved to 4-1-1 with a .957 save percentage.

“The other night was more physical, but mentally you were in it. You had a lot of shots and you can see a lot of records and you can feel the record, ”Markstrom said. “Today was more mental. Just stay really focused and don’t get derailed. Watch our guys play a great game in front of me. “

Carter Hart made 32 saves for Philadelphia (4-2-1). Claude Giroux made no sense for the first time this season and his six-point streak ended.

“It’s disappointing when the team puts an effort like that in front of (Hart) when, realistically, he’s the only reason it ended up on the scoreboard that it was. He made some incredible saves, ”said Flyers center Travis Konecny.

The Flyers lost the final game of their road trip through western Canada after taking victories in Edmonton and Vancouver.

“You have to give credit to what it deserves. They’re playing an extremely tight hockey game where there’s not a lot of room on the ice, ”said Flyers coach Alain Vigneault. “When the team plays that way, you have to make offensive plays. His execution has to be the best and obviously they took that from us tonight. They made it very difficult. “

After a strict, scoreless first period in which Calgary outshot Philadelphia 8-4, the Flames improved it in the second and left the Flyers continually trapped on their own end.

The relentless pressure led the Flyers to receive two minor penalties, both fouls committed by Tkachuk, and the second, an interference on Rasmus Ristolainen, proved costly as Monahan redirected a crossing pass from Rasmus Andersson. The goal at 9:07 came on the twelfth consecutive shot to open the second half.

It was Monahan’s first goal of the season.

The score remained 1-0 until Tkachuk gave the Flames some security at 8:30 of the third period, making it 2-0 on the second goal of Calgary’s power play, carefully converting a skillful passing sequence. with Elias Lindholm and Monahan.

After Backlund scored on an empty goal, Gaudreau added his second of the season with two minutes remaining, beating Hart inside the goalpost.

It was a dominant defensive performance for the Flames. The Flyers entered the game averaging more than four goals per game.