Sharangovich scores hat trick, Flames cruise past Coyotes

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Yegor Sharangovich had a hat trick, and the Calgary Flames scored four first-period goals in a 6-2 win against the Arizona Coyotes at Mullett Arena on Thursday.

Blake Coleman had a goal and two assists for the Flames (19-18-5), who have won five of their past seven. Jacob Markstrom made 32 saves. Elias Lindholm, Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar each had two assists.

“It was a really good game, we really had a big start, and when they scored a couple of goals in the second period, we weren’t playing the right way,” Sharangovich said. “But in the third period, it was the same start [as the first period].”

Clayton Keller and Lawson Crouse scored for the Coyotes (20-18-2), who have lost four of five. Connor Ingram made 16 saves in relief of Karel Vejmelka, who allowed four goals on 12 shots in the first.

“We were a little lax, a couple of turnovers [that led to goals]. I don’t think we were locked in on our details enough at the start,” Arizona forward Jason Zucker said. “There’s no excuse for it. We’ve got to be better. We showed them our worst.”

The four-goal first period gave Calgary eight goals in its past two periods; it scored four goals in the third period of a 6-3 win against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.

Mikael Backlund scored on a breakaway off a pass by Coleman to make it 1-0 just 20 seconds into the game.

Sharangovich made it 2-0 at 6:37 with the Flames' 10th short-handed goal of the season.

Rasmus Andersson converted a bounce off the end boards to extend the lead to 3-0 at 7:56. It was Calgary's third goal on its first four shots.

“When you get a lead like that, it's hard for teams to come back on, so I was really pleased with that,” Flames coach Ryan Huska said. “We need more of those.”

Crouse cut it to 3-1 at 13:44 on a rebound that deflected off Flames defenseman Martin Pospisil.

“We’ve struggled during the first period for quite a while, and that’s something for the coaches and the leaders to take charge of,” Coyotes coach Andre Tourigny said. “I was surprised and disappointed. It worries me.”

Coleman deflected a shot between his legs to make it 4-1 14 seconds later at 13:58. Ingram replaced Vejmelka after the goal.

Keller made it 4-2 at 1:44 of the second on a one-timer of Logan Cooley’s pass.

Sharangovich scored 58 seconds into the third period to make it 5-2 and finished off his second career hat trick with a one-timer on the power play at 7:06 for the 6-2 final.

“That whole line (Sharangovich, Lindholm, Huberdeau) was really solid for us tonight; they made some big plays and big goals, and I’m really happy for `Sharky’ to get that hat trick. It's always a special feeling,” Backlund said. “The third one was a really big goal for us.”

Sharangovich has five goals in his past two games and 11 points in his past seven.

“It's chemistry with his two linemates now, they're starting to make some plays together,” Huska said. “We've talked all year about his shot release, and he's putting himself in positions now where he's available [to shoot], and Jonathan and Elias are starting to find him.”

NOTES: Backlund passed Mark Giordano for the second-most games played in Flames history (950). Jarome Iginla leads with 1,219. … Andersson tied Josh Morrissey and Dougie Hamilton for the most game-winning goals among defensemen since the beginning of last season (seven). … Coleman has 11 goals and 22 points over his past 21 games after having only six goals and 12 points through his first 21. … Lindholm was 13-for-20 on face-offs (65 percent). … Zucker returned after serving a three-game suspension for boarding Florida Panthers forward Nick Cousins on Jan. 2