Matthew Tkachuk notched his first career hat trick along with an assist, while linemates Mikael Backlund scored twice in a three-point game and Michael Frolik collected a career-high four assists as the host Calgary Flames snapped a four-game losing streak with a 6-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday night.
David Rittich made 25 saves for the Flames, including a clutch stop on Max Pacioretty midway through the third period when it was a one-goal game. Calgary is once again back atop the Western Conference.
With the score tied late in the second period, Backlund netted the game-winning goal with his second of the night, a nifty deflection for a power-play goal with 21.8 seconds remaining in the middle frame to make it 4-3.
Tkachuk iced the game with two late third-period goals, his first with 4:17 remaining and then an empty netter with 2:32 left on the clock.
The Flames, goal starved during their skid, staked themselves to a well-deserved 3-1 lead before the first intermission.
Andrew Mangiapane opened the scoring with a nifty tally 2:40 into the clash, converting the deke on a breakaway caused by some horrible defensive play, and then Backlund netted his first of the night five minutes later with a long wrist shot that found the mark.
Brandon Pirri put the Knights on the board with 5:20 left in the opening frame, burying a glorious chance from the slot, but Tkachuk restored Calgary's two-goal edge with 62 seconds remaining in the period by converting on a two-on-one rush.
Whatever was said in the Vegas dressing room at the first intermission worked, and the visitors responded in a big way to start the second period.
Reilly Smith scored just 21 seconds into the period with a nifty backhand deke to complete a two-on-one rush of his own, and then Mark Stone tied the clash 59 seconds later by finishing an odd-man rush.
Goalie Malcolm Subban made 29 saves for the Golden Knights, who saw their six-game winning streak snapped.
--Field Level Media