5 THINGS - FLAMES @ CAPITALS
Flames finish off road trip with first of back-to-back matiness
Video: Brendan Parker sets up Friday's matinee
NEED-TO-KNOW
ONLINE 50/50
Purchase your online 50/50 tickets for a chance at some big cash!
GAME DAY VIDEO
Game Day with Brendan Parker
Interviews - Tanev, Gilbert & Andersson
GAME DAY FEATURES
'Keeping It Simple' - Dube
Photo Gallery from Thursday's Practice
Projected Lineup
STAT PACK
Media Game Notes
Scoring Leaders
2021-22 Head-to-Head Stats
WANT TO WIN SOME CASH?!
https://www.nhl.com/flames/community/50-50
Leading Scorers:
Flames:
Points - Elias Lindholm (16)
Goals - Nazem Kadri (8)
Capitals:
Points - Alexander Ovechkin (19)
Goals - Ovechkin (10)
Special Teams:
Flames:
PP - 19.7% (23rd) / PK - 81.7% (9th)
Capitals:
PP - 19.5% (24th) / PK - 79.7% (16th)
Advanced Stats:
Flames:
Shot Attempts: 54.80% (4th)
High-Danger Chances: 52.45% (13th)
Capitals:
Shot Attempts: 51.18% (11th)
High-Danger Chances: 49.07% (20th)
It was a wild one in Pittsburgh on Wednesday night.
Sure, it took a shootout to give the host Pens a 2-1 victory, but despite the lack of goals, it was an extremely entertaining affair.
Dillon Dube scored his third goal of the year - his second tally in as many games - and Dan Vladar was incredible making 38 saves through regulation and overtime.
Evgeni Malkin scored the shootout winner for the homeside, the fourth Pen to go in the 1-on-1 battle. Jonathan Huberdeau and Rasmus Andersson scored for Calgary in the shootout, while Nazem Kadri and Mikael Backlund were denied by Tristan Jarry.
"I think the second period, we had a real big effort trying to forecheck, get pucks back," said coach Darryl Sutter. "Did a really good job. Knew they were going to be fired up after the (Malkin) ceremony and all that. They were. It's a tough rink. I've been coming here a long time. Tough to win in Pittsburgh, tough to get points."
Video: CGY Recap: Dube gets lone regulation goal in SO loss
The Caps beat the visiting Flyers 3-2 in overtime on Wednesday night.
We'll give you one guess who scored?
Alex Ovechkin tallied his 10th goal of the season just 1:04 into extra time, converting on a one-timer off a pass from Dylan Strome.
Washington trailed 2-1 going into the final frame where Sonny Milano - who attended Flames training camp on a PTO - scored with 2:58 left in the game to force extra time.
The Caps came into the game having lost four straight, being outscored 20-9 over that stretch.
"It hasn't gone our way and we've got to start somewhere digging out," Capitals coach Peter Laviolette told NHL.com's Harvey Valentine. "It was a gutsy win, just staying with it. It was one of those games where it seems like you're not going to find that next one. You're pushing, you're pushing, and I thought guys just stuck to it."
The captain echoed his coach, saying he was impressed with his team's resilience in the victory.
"It's an important two points," Ovechkin told Capitals.com. "I think we were struggling. We were in a hard position, but it's a good thing we battle through it and get two points."
Marcus Johansson also scored Washington, while Darcy Kuemper made 21 saves.
Interesting note at the end of Valentine's game story: Ovechkin scored on a 164th goalie, tying Mark Messier for the third-most in NHL history behind Jaromir Jagr (178) and Patrick Marleau (177). With 790 goals, he is 11 from tying Gordie Howe for second on the NHL list.
LAST TIME IN WASHINGTON:The Flames last trip to Capital One Arena was back in October of 2021 when they took on the Capitals amid a five-game road swing. Elias Lindholm was the star on that day, recording his second-career NHL hat-trick, including an even-strength goal, a shorthanded goal, and the overtime winner. Andrew Mangiapane also tallied for Calgary and Dan Vladar started and won his first game as a member of the Flames, stopping 25 shots, helping the Flames to a 4-3 overtime victory.
GILBERT'S GRIT:Defenceman Dennis Gilbert skated in his sixth game with the Flames on Wednesday night in Pittsburgh and recorded his first point as a member of the team when he assisted on Dillon Dube's second-period marker. That was Gilbert's first NHL point since Dec. 27, 2019, when he scored his first NHL goal against the Islanders while he was a member of the Blackhawks. The 26-year-old has also been a physical presence for the Flames and leads the team with three fights on the season, and has 14 hits in his six games.
Video: "The last two games are going to be key"
LOCK IT DOWN:Through 19 games, the Flames have allowed the second-fewest shot attempts against this season (713). They have 881 shot attempts for, and their +168 shot-attempt differential is the fourth best in the NHL so far this season. They also have the third best shots-for per game average in the NHL (35.7), and the best among Western Conference clubs.
Stick tap to Flames Communications Coordinator Jordan Bay for compiling these notes.
Follow the Flames PR team @FlamesPR on Twitter for more.
Video: "Confidence is big in this league"
Flames - Nikita Zadorov
Zadorov had a monster game on Wednesday in the tilt against the Penguins, logging 25:57 of ice time, recording three shots, throwing five hits, and blocking eight shots.
Capitals - T.J. Oshie
Oshie returned to the lineup in the win over the Flyers and had a big night, collecting a pair of assists in regulation. He also had a team-high seven hits for good measure.
Dillon Dube on finishing out trip with unusual back-to-back matinees:
"I love them, to be honest. I'm a big sleeper, so for me just getting up, it's game time, you don't overthink it. It's awesome ... I don't know why but I've always felt good energy with them. I think most guys like it, too. We never get them out west so it's nice to have them and enjoy playing in them for sure."
