Flames at Blackhawks
The Calgary Flames finally put an end to a six-game losing streak by rallying from a two-goal deficit for an overtime victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night. The Flames will be facing a revenge-minded club when they travel to Chicago for a rematch on Tuesday night in the opener of a six-game road trip.
Sean Monahan scored 59 seconds into overtime as Calgary also halted a five-game skid at home. "It's good for your mindset," Flames coach Glen Gulutzan said. "That's the biggest thing we're going to get from this game, especially heading out onto the road. That feeling and that little bit of swagger." The Blackhawks lamented a missed opportunity in the finale of a four-game road trip that started with impressive wins at Detroit and Nashville. “When we get those leads we’ve got to keep pushing,” Chicago forward Nick Schmaltz said. “We can’t sit back and just be happy being up a goal. You’ve got to work for that next one and put them away."
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet West (Calgary), NBCS Chicago
ABOUT THE FLAMES (26-18-8): Monahan's OT score was his eighth game-winning goal of the season, giving him the league lead and matching his career high from 2014-15. Michael Frolik forced the extra session with a third-period goal in his third game since missing a month with a fractured jaw. "Obviously it's not easy after that long break to come back, but every game I've felt better and better and hopefully now it's going to start getting better and have my peak in this stretch on the road trip, and hopefully we can come up with the big wins," Frolik said.
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (24-20-8): No. 1 goaltender Corey Crawford, sidelined with a head injury since Dec. 23, skated for the third straight day Monday but his return does not appear imminent. “We’ll get a better idea once he gets on the ice with us (for a full practice)," coach Joel Quenneville said. "That’ll be the best sign, and then we’ll know it’s probably not that far away.” Quenneville made a move to jump-start three of slumping players going by forming a fourth line that will feature Brandon Saad with Patrick Sharp and Ryan Hartman.
OVERTIME
1. Schmaltz has nine goals and nine assists in 17 games since the Chrismas break.
2. The Flames recalled C Marek Hrivik from Stockton and re-assigned Andrew Mangiapane to their AHL affiliate.
3. Blackhawks G Jeff Glass will make his third start of the season versus Calgary, dropping a pair of 4-3 OT decisions.