Flames halt record 25-game skid at Anaheim
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Sean Monahan and Mikael Backlund registered goals, and Mike Smith made 43 saves as the Calgary Flames ended an NHL-record losing streak with a 2-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Monday.
The Flames (2-1-0) had dropped 25 consecutive games in Anaheim -- with their last victory at Honda Center coming on Jan. 19, 2004. Calgary logged its first road win of the season.
Smith posted his 34th career shutout and was especially strong in the second and third periods, stopping a combined 34 Anaheim attempts.
The Ducks (1-1-1) lost their second consecutive home game and failed to convert on five power-play attempts. Anaheim goalie John Gibson made 27 saves.
Monahan gave the Flames a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal, his first tally of the season, at 16:27 of the second period. With Anaheim's Kevin Bieksa in the penalty box for cross-checking, Kris Versteeg's pass deflected off the stick of Anaheim defenseman Cam Fowler to Monahan, who was stationed in the slot. Monahan fired a quick wrist shot past Gibson for the score with Johnny Gaudreau drawing the secondary assist.
Calgary extended to a 2-0 lead on Backlund's second goal of the season at 6:19 of the third period. Backlund was left unchecked on a rush into the Anaheim zone. Michael Frolik's pass found him in stride for a wrist shot that beat Gibson over his right shoulder for the insurance marker. Matthew Tkachuk registered the secondary assist.
Ducks winger Ondrej Kase left the game after the second period with an upper-body injury and did not return.
The first period was scoreless. Calgary outshot Anaheim 10-9 and both teams failed on two power-play attempts. Anaheim's Corey Perry and Calgary's Travis Hamonic engaged in a rare fight.
NOTES: The Flames conclude their two-game Southern California road trip in Los Angeles on Wednesday. ... Calgary scratched C Freddie Hamilton, D Brett Kulak and RW Jaromir Jagr. The 45-year-old Jagr accompanied the team on the trip but is not expected to play. The expectation is that he will make his Flames debut Friday at home against Ottawa. ... Anaheim did not dress D Korbinian Holzer, LW Nick Ritchie and LW Giovanni Fiore. ... Ducks C Ryan Getzlaf made his first appearance of the regular season after missing the first two games with a lower-body injury. ... The Ducks conclude their four-game, season-opening homestand on Wednesday against the New York Islanders.