Coleman, Gilbert help lift Flames past Flyers

CALGARY -- Blake Coleman and Dennis Gilbert each had a goal and an assist, and the Calgary Flames held on for a 4-3 win against the Philadelphia Flyers at Scotiabank Saddledome on Sunday.

Andrew Mangiapane had three assists, and Nazem Kadri and Mikael Backlund scored for the Flames (15-16-5), who had lost two in a row. Jacob Markstrom made 28 saves.

"We wanted to end the year on a great note and that's what we did," Calgary forward Jonathan Huberdeau said. "We're right there. We just have to put some wins together and get right back in it."

Rasmus Ristolainen and Bobby Brink scored, and Samuel Ersson made 29 saves for the Flyers (19-12-5), who have lost four of five and had a nine-game road point streak (6-0-3) end.

"These last two efforts haven't been our best” Philadelphia forward Sean Couturier said. “So, it's important to get on the right track and start coming back to checking the right way and doing a lot of the little things we've been doing all year. Go back to basics and trusting in our system and the way we play. Go back to our identity, I guess."

Ristolainen gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead at 9:44 of the first period when he scored off a cross-ice pass just above the edge of the crease from Ryan Poehling.

"Just tried to get up there when you see the chance and join the rush, and Poehling made a great play," Ristolainen said.

Backlund tied it 1-1 at 18:21 of the second period after his one-timer from the slot deflected in off Ersson's glove.

Gilbert put the Flames ahead 2-1 at 7:29 of the third period, taking a cross-ice pass from Huberdeau and scoring short-side. The assist was Huberdeau's first point in 13 games dating back to Nov. 30.

"Feels good, has been a while," Huberdeau said. "I think it's more about the whole game, creating stuff. I know it's going to come in. It's not like you get a point and you get to relax. Every game has to be like that, creating stuff. I'm an offensive guy here and I have to create plays every time I'm on the ice."

Kadri extended it to 3-1 at 14:29 with a shot short-side off the rush during a 4-on-4.

Brink cut it to 3-2 at 16:36, scoring on a rebound with Ersson on the bench for the extra attacker.

"No quitting at the end," Couturier said. "Too bad we didn't show up the first two periods. I thought we lost an opportunity and we just need to be better."

Coleman, in his 500th NHL game, pushed it to 4-2 at 17:42 after scoring into an empty net on a pass from Mangiapane.

Egor Zamula scored on a slap shot from the point at 18:38 for the 4-3 final.

"It was a little hectic, but it was good we came away with the win," Mangiapane said. "We bent a little bit there, but we were able to get the two points and now we move on."

NOTES: Coleman is the fourth Texas-born player to reach 500 NHL games, joining Brian Leetch (1,205 games), Tyler Myers (954) and Seth Jones (757). ... Huberdeau has gone 18 straight games without a goal. ... Backlund's goal moved him ahead of Mark Giordano for sole possession of ninth place on Calgary’s all-time list with 510 points (193 goals, 317 assists). ... Flyers forward Travis Konecny had an assist to extend his point streak to four games (one goal, four assists).