Flames beat Kings, maintain top wild-card spot
LOS ANGELES -- Defenseman Dennis Wideman scored the decisive goal, and rookie goaltender Jon Gillies made 27 saves to win his NHL debut as the Calgary Flames defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4-1 on Thursday.
The Flames (45-32-4) also got goals from Sam Bennett, Freddie Hamilton and Alex Chiasson to break a two-game losing streak and stay in the first wild-card position in the Western Conference by virtue of having two more regulation or overtime wins than the Nashville Predators. Both teams have 94 points.
Trevor Lewis scored for Los Angeles, which lost for the fourth time in its last seven games. Ben Bishop stopped 20 Calgary shots.
The Flames took a 1-0 lead on Bennett's power play goal, his 13th of the season at 4:57 of the first period. Calgary navigated the puck around the zone and Mikael Backlund found Bennett alone in the slot for a one-timer from 27 feet with Mark Giordano earning the secondary assist.
Los Angeles (38-35-7) tied the game at 1 on Lewis' 12th goal of the season at 6:13 of the first period. Lewis finished off an odd man rush with a wrist shot off a feed from Jeff Carter with Derek Forbort getting the additional helper.
Calgary took control with a three-goal second period. Wideman's sixth of the season at 4:32 came when he stepped out the box after serving a roughing penalty and took a feed from Micheal Ferland for a breakaway marker.
Hamilton's second goal of the season at 10:45 increased the margin to 3-1 when his wrap around attempt deflected off Brayden McNabb and into the net.
Chiasson completed the run by tipping in a T.J. Brodie point shot for his second of the season at 14:20.
NOTES: Flames G Jon Gillies was recalled from Stockton of the American Hockey League on Wednesday and spelled Brian Elliott after Chad Johnson, the regular backup, left a 3-1 loss to Anaheim on Wednesday at 5:19 of the first period with a lower-body injury. ... The Flames scratched Johnson, LW Lance Bouma, C Matt Stajan, D Michael Stone and D Rasmus Andersson. ... The Kings did not dress RW Marian Gaborik, LW Kyle Clifford, D Paul LaDue and C Jordan Nolan. ... Los Angeles hosted their annual Fan Appreciation Night, an event customarily reserved for the last regular season game. Instead, Saturday's game against Chicago will honor Hall of Fame television play-by-play man Bob Miller, who is retiring after 44 years behind the microphone. The 78-year-old Miller has had health issues the past two seasons and announced his retirement earlier this season.