Flames Defeat Kings: Backlund, Wolf Lead Charge
The Calgary Flames continued their hot start to the season, defeating the Los Angeles Kings 4-2 on Tuesday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Mikael Backlund and Matthew Tkachuk each had a goal and an assist, while Rasmus Andersson and Dillon Dube added single goals for the Flames. Jacob Markstrom made 25 saves in the victory.
The Flames came out flying in the first period, scoring two goals in the opening 10 minutes. Backlund opened the scoring at 4:17, deflecting a shot from Noah Hanifin past Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick. Just over three minutes later, Tkachuk doubled the lead, scoring on a breakaway after a beautiful pass from Johnny Gaudreau.
The Kings got one back midway through the second period when Phillip Danault tipped in a shot from Drew Doughty. But the Flames answered back just over a minute later, when Andersson ripped a shot from the point past Quick.
The Flames extended their lead to 4-1 in the third period when Dube scored on a deflection from a Tyler Toffoli shot. The Kings pulled Quick late in the game and Adrian Kempe scored an empty net goal to make the final score 4-2.
Key Takeaways:
- Backlund and Tkachuk continue to be key offensive players for the Flames, leading the team in scoring.
- Andersson has been a pleasant surprise for the Flames, providing offense from the blueline.
- Markstrom has been solid in net for the Flames, giving them a chance to win every night.
Looking Ahead:
The Flames will look to continue their winning ways on Thursday night when they host the Vegas Golden Knights. It should be a tough matchup against a strong Golden Knights team, but the Flames will be confident after their victory over the Kings.
Overall:
The Flames are playing with a lot of confidence and energy right now, and it's showing in their results. They're getting contributions from all four lines and their special teams are clicking. If they can keep playing at this level, they'll be a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference.