Streaking Flames edge Coyotes in OT
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving cited three keys to his team's recent surge: special teams, the goaltending of Chad Johnson and the improved performance of the top players. All three were on display Thursday at Gila River Arena.
Captain Mark Giordano scored a power-play goal, Calgary killed off all three Arizona power plays, Johnson made 27 saves, Johnny Gaudreau had two assists, and Dougie Hamilton scored at 1:09 of overtime to lift the Flames to their fifth straight win, a 2-1 decision over the Arizona Coyotes.
Mike Smith made 33 saves for Arizona, which scored two goals or fewer for the 11th time in the past 14 games. The Coyotes (8-13-5) lost a season-high sixth game in a row (0-3-3).
Johnson is 10-2-0 since taking over the starting goaltending duties from Brian Elliott.
Max Domi put the Coyotes on top at 7:23 of the first period. Domi collected a loose puck to the left of the Calgary net during a lengthy goalmouth scrum and slid it past Johnson, who was out of position to the side of the net after getting tangled with a teammate.
Captain Shane Doan collected an assist on Domi's fourth goal of the season, giving him the franchise record for assists in a career with 554, passing Thomas Steen.
Doan is one of five players who own franchise records in all of these categories: games played (1,492), goals (399), points (953), power-play goals (126) and game-winning goals (69). The others are Ron Francis (Carolina), Joe Sakic (Colorado), Rick Nash (Columbus) and Mike Modano (Dallas).
Calgary tied the game on a first-period power play with Coyotes right winger Anthony Duclair in the box for tripping. Giordano took a feed at the left circle from Gaudreau and ripped a one-timer under Smith's pad at 17:45.
NOTES: Flames LW Lance Bouma returned to the lineup after missing 17 games with a shoulder injury. ... Calgary RW Kris Versteeg sat out for what the team called a maintenance day. ... Coyotes coach Dave Tippett reunited the line of LW Tobias Rieder, C Martin Hanzal and RW Anthony Duclair that played together for most of last season but had not played together this season. The hope was to break Duclair out of a season-long scoring slump. ... The Flames recalled D Tyler Wotherspoon from Stockton of the AHL on Thursday, but he was scratched. ... Coyotes GM John Chayka said the team is no longer looking for help on its blue line because of the play of rookie defensemen Jakob Chychrun and Anthony DeAngelo. ... The Coyotes have not ruled out a return this season by C Brad Richardson, who broke his tibia and fibula on Nov. 17 at Vancouver, but the team will not set a timeline.