Mikael Backlund and Jonathan Huberdeau scored second-period goals 36 seconds apart and the host Calgary Flames held on for a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Monday.
Dustin Wolf, who came within a whisker of his first career shutout, made 29 saves. He also collected his first NHL point with an assist. Kevin Rooney also scored and Backlund finished with two points.
Trevor Moore scored with 2:31 left in regulation for the Kings, while goaltender Darcy Kuemper stopped 25 shots.
Despite outshooting and collecting more chances the visitors from the drop of the puck — the Kings needed more than 11 minutes to register their first shot on goal — the Flames failed to score for nearly 30 minutes to open the game. Backlund opened the scoring at 10:42 of the second period after gaining the puck in the slot off a turnover and whipping a top-corner shot for his fourth goal of the season.
Huberdeau doubled the lead right shortly after the ensuing puck drop. Andrei Kuzmenko sprung Huberdeau on a partial breakaway, and, while holding off a check, Huberdeau slipped a low shot into the cage for his sixth goal of the campaign. Wolf got his assist on that goal.
Moore finally solved Wolf with late in the third, converting a golden chance that needed video review to prove crossed the line for his third goal of the season.
Rooney iced the game with an empty-net goal, his first tally of the season, with 20 seconds on the clock.
Wolf showed he was on his game early when he denied Kevin Fiala on a first-period breakaway. He stared down Anze Kopitar moments after his team staked the 2-0 lead, and kept the door shut early in the third period when Adrian Kempe was sprung on a golden opportunity.
Earlier in the day, the Flames announced forward Anthony Mantha would miss the remainder of the season due to knee surgery.
–Field Level Media
