Pro Sports

Monahan gets 100th goal, Flames beat Lightning 3-2

Posted February 23, 2017 6:00 am

By MARK DIDTLER

Calgary Flames center Sean Monahan (23) celebrates with the bench after scoring against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - The Calgary Flames have put together a nice run as the regular season starts winding down.

Sean Monahan scored his 100th NHL goal, Brian Elliott made 23 saves, and the Flames beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 on Thursday night.

Dougie Hamilton had a goal and two assists, and Mikael Backlund also scored to help the Flames improve to 7-2-1 over their last 10 games.

"Sometimes it comes together and guys are clicking a little bit," Elliott said. "It's really how everybody is playing together. That's the momentum you're building, that chemistry."

Tampa Bay, which entered with a seven-game points streak (5-0-2), got goals from Vladislav Namestnikov and Nikita Kucherov. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 22 shots.

"You give them credit for the way they played, and they kind of clogged things up for a little bit, but I'm pinning that game on us," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. "We couldn't get our way through the neutral zone because we weren't executing. It was a collective group, we just didn't have it."

After Backlund scored 5:04 into the second, Monahan put the Flames up 2-1 just 1:21 later on his 20th goal this season.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Monahan - at 22 years and 134 days - became the sixth-youngest active NHL player to reach 100 goals. The five to do it quicker are Steven Stamkos, Sidney Crosby, Jaromir Jagr, Alex Ovechkin and Patrick Kane.

"That's impressive," Elliott said, "It's a big one for him. It's just a cool accomplishment. He's just got that quick release. He can put it where he wants to."

Elliott, 7-2-1 against Tampa Bay, made an extended pad save on Brayden Point midway through the second.

Hamilton and Kucherov both had power-play goals late in third.

Namestnikov had the lone first-period goal. He has a goal in three straight games.

Braydon Coburn got his first assist in 41 games on Namestnikov's goal.

NOTES: Flames LW Johnny Gaudreau had an assist and has five over the last two games. ... Tampa Bay RW Ryan Callahan is expected to miss the rest of the season after having surgery Tuesday on his right hip for the second time in less than a year. ... Flames C Sam Bennett played after receiving 10 stitches and having a root canal stemming from a high stick to the mouth during Tuesday's game against Nashville. ... Lightning LW Jonathan Drouin didn't play due to the flu. ... Tampa Bay D Anton Stralman played in his 600th NHL game.

UP NEXT

Flames: At Florida on Friday night for the fourth of a five-game trip.

Lightning: Host Ottawa on Monday night in the third of four straight home games.

Calgary Flames right wing Troy Brouwer (36) gets around Tampa Bay Lightning center Tyler Johnson during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) The Associated Press

Tampa Bay Lightning center Brian Boyle (11) and Calgary Flames defenseman Michael Stone (26) battle for a loose puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) The Associated Press

Calgary Flames goalie Brian Elliott (1) makes a blocker save as Tampa Bay Lightning center Vladislav Namestnikov (90), of Russia, and defenseman Matt Bartkowski (44) look for a rebound during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) The Associated Press

Tampa Bay Lightning center Vladislav Namestnikov (90), of Russia, pins Calgary Flames center Matt Stajan (18) to the ice after a check during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) The Associated Press

Calgary Flames center Matt Stajan (18) stick handles around Tampa Bay Lightning center Valtteri Filppula (51), of Finland, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) The Associated Press

Calgary Flames left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) deflects the puck into Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy (88), of Russia, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) The Associated Press

Calgary Flames center Mikael Backlund (11), of Sweden, gets hooked by Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Alex Killorn (17) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) The Associated Press

Article Comments

Article Categories
Content Providers Hockey NHL Pro Sports Sports Sports Leagues Sports Types

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.