Tkachuk’s Shootout Goal Helps Flames Top Flyers, End Skid

PHILADELPHIA — Matthew Tkachuk scored the only goal in the shootout, and the Calgary Flames beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Saturday to stop a six-game slide.

Calgary’s Elias Lindholm tied it at 2 when he scored with 1:23 left in regulation. Andrew Mangiapane also scored for the Flames, who were shut out in their previous three road games as part of their skid.

Kevin Hayes and Jakub Voracek scored for Philadelphia, which lost for the fifth time in six games.

David Rittich made 27 saves and stopped all three Flyers attempts in the tiebreaker. Tkachuk, Calgary’s second shooter, scored on a backhander that went through Carter Hart’s legs.

Philadelphia grabbed a 2-1 lead with 3:46 left in regulation when Hayes capitalized on a stellar hustle play by rookie forward Joel Farabee.

Kevin Hayes Philadelphia Flyers
Kevin Hayes, Philadelphia Flyers (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Rittich tried to play the puck behind the net, but Farabee forced him into a turnover. Hayes then converted a backhander for his sixth of the season and second in as many games.

But the Flames with Lindholm’s 11th of the season. Rasmus Andersson’s slap shot from the point went wide of the net, but caromed off the back boards to a wide-open Lindholm.

Mangiapane tied it at 1 1:01 into the third period, stopping the Flames’ long scoreless road drought.

After a turnover by Flyers rookie Morgan Frost in his third career game, Mangiapane’s wrist shot went off defenceman Philippe Myers and past Hart.

Calgary Flames Andrew Mangiapane
Calgary Flames left wing Andrew Mangiapane (Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports)

Calgary’s previous road goal had come Nov. 3 at Washington with two seconds left in the first period, a span of 261 minutes, 3 seconds between road scores.

Flames star Johnny Gaudreau, a South Jersey native who attended nearby Gloucester Catholic High School, had the secondary assist on Lindholm’s goal. He has four goals and 10 assists in 11 games against the Flyers.

NOTES

Flyers D Shayne Gostisbehere was a healthy scratch. … Flames D TJ Brodie joined the team for the first time since collapsing in practice Nov. 14. Brodie, who skated on Thursday for the first time since the incident, has missed four straight games. There is no timetable for his return. … Philadelphia F Scott Laughton returned to the lineup after missing 13 games with a broken right finger. … Calgary won the season series 2-0. The Flyers lost 3-1 at Calgary on Oct. 15. … The Flames improved to 3-0 in shootouts while Philadelphia fell to 3-5.

UP NEXT

Flames: At Pittsburgh on Monday.

Flyers: Host Vancouver on Monday.

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Aaron Bracy, The Associated Press