Saturday, April 10, 2021 10:00 PM (ET)

Flames blank Oilers to end four-game losing streak

Field Level Media
Apr 11, 2021

Johnny Gaudreau and Mark Giordano both netted goals and goaltender Jacob Markstrom posted the shutout as the Calgary Flames rode a four-goal second period to a 5-0 home victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night.

The win snapped a four-game losing skid. Giordano and Gaudreau also had an assist each.

Sean Monahan, Elias Lindholm and Brett Ritchie also scored for the Flames. Markstrom made 17 saves for his third shutout of the season and eighth of his career.

Markstrom was relied upon for a few clutch saves in the opening minutes -- his best against Josh Archibald -- but neither of Edmonton's dynamic duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were a factor.

Mike Smith stopped 27 shots for the Oilers, who looked like a tired team playing their fourth road game in six nights. Edmonton is nine points ahead of fourth-place Montreal in the North Division.

The Flames need a miracle to make the Stanley Cup playoffs and went in having lost eight of nine games, but they delivered a dominating second period.

Monahan snapped a 12-game goal drought when he opened the scoring 3:12 after the break. Dillon Dube sent a pass to Monahan at the bottom of the right circle and he ripped a sharp-angled shot.

Then Gaudreau, who played on a separate line from Monahan, doubled the lead just past the midway point. Gaudreau also wired a shot from the bottom of the right circle to snap a seven-game scoring drought at 10:43. It's the first game this season that both Monahan and Gaudreau have scored in the same game.

Lindholm's power-play goal made it a 3-0 game a few minutes later. Set up by Gaudreau while in the slot, Lindholm wired a one-timer through the five-hole.

Giordano capped an outstanding period for the hosts by netting his seventh goal of the season with 34.9 seconds remaining in the frame. Giordano took a pass from Mikael Backlund -- who collected two assists -- before sending home a wrist shot from the left face-off dot.

Ritchie rounded out the scoring with 6:30 remaining in regulation when his backhand from the left dot somehow squirted through Smith's legs.

Sam Bennett also had a two-assist game for Calgary, which is six points behind Montreal. The Flames and Canadiens have five meetings to come.

--Field Level Media

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