By Canadian Press

Gaudreau, Markstrom help Flames beat Blackhawks 5-2

Apr 18, 2022 | 8:48 PM

CHICAGO (AP) — Johnny Gaudreau, Dillon Dube and Blake Coleman scored in the first period, and the Calgary Flames beat the lowly Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 on Monday night.

Jacob Markstrom made 21 saves as playoff-bound Calgary won for the seventh time in eight games. Gaudreau and Oliver Kylington tacked on long empty-netters for the Pacific Division leaders in the final 1:32.

Chicago lost for the 10th time in 11 games. Tyler Johnson and Alec Regula scored, and Kevin Lankinen made 30 stops.

The Blackhawks finished the game without Mackenzie Entwistle after the forward departed in the first period with a right shoulder injury.

Chicago was down 3-1 when Regula’s long shot from the top of the left circle appeared to go off Markstrom and into the net 12:54 into the second period. It was the first career point for the defenseman in his 13th NHL game.

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But that was it for the Blackhawks against Markstrom and Co. Markstrom made a glove save on Reese Johnson with 4:09 left in the third, and the two empty-netters put it away for Calgary.

The Flames got off to a fast start behind Dube, who redirected Noah Hanifin’s shot past Lankinen just 22 seconds in. It was Dube’s fourth goal in his last three games and No. 14 on the season, extending his career high.

Gaudreau then made it 2-0 when he circled the offensive zone before finding a wide-open shot in the right circle, beating a screened Lankinen high on the goaltender’s stick side at 6:23.

It was Gaudreau’s career-best 37th goal and his 600th point. He had two goals and two assists during Saturday night’s 9-1 victory against Arizona.

Gaudreau nearly picked up another point when he set up Calle Jarnkrok with about eight minutes left, but Lankinen made a great right pad stop.

Coleman’s 16th goal on a well-placed tip at 14:41 lifted Calgary to a 3-1 lead after one. The Flames outshot Chicago 14-6 in the opening period.

INJURY WOES

Blackhawks forward Kirby Dach missed his second straight game with a right shoulder sprain. Coach Derek King said he isn’t sure if Dach will travel with the team on its upcoming three-game trip.

“It’s day by day,” King said. “Not sure where this is going, but hopefully he’s back soon so he can play some games for us.”

The return of Connor Murphy likely will be up to the defenseman, King said. Murphy hasn’t played since March 12 because of the NHL’s concussion protocol, and the seventh-place Blackhawks have six games left this season.

UP NEXT

Flames: At Nashville Predators on Tuesday night.

Blackhawks: At Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday night.

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Jay Cohen can be reached at https://twitter.com/jcohenap

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More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Jay Cohen, The Associated Press