Pro Sports

Flames rout Coyotes 9-1 after clinching playoff spot

Posted April 17, 2022 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Calgary Flames' Matthew Tkachuk, second from right, celebrates his goal against the Arizona Coyotes with teammates during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 16, 2022, in Calgary, Alberta. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) - Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk each had two goals and two assists and the Calgary Flames routed the Arizona Coyotes 9-1 on Saturday night after they clinched a playoff spot before the game started.

Edmonton locked Pacific Division-leading Calgary into the postseason by beating Vegas 4-0 earlier in the day.

The Flames, 46-20-9 and sitting atop the Pacific Division, became the third Western Conference club to earn a playoff berth, following Colorado and St. Louis.

'œIt's really difficult to make the playoffs,'ť Flames coach Darryl Sutter said. 'œOnly half the teams in the league do it. We made the playoffs with two weeks left in the season.'ť

Dillon Dube also scored twice and Elias Lindholm had a goal and three assists. Andrew Mangiapane and Blake Coleman added goals and Jacob Markstrom stopped 25 shots.

Arizona led 1-0 after the first period on Nick Ritchie's first-minute goal. The Flames broke it open with four goals in a 2:33 span early in the second.

'œWe had a good first period, then they had a push in the second where they scored four goals on four shots,'ť Coyotes coach AndrÃ© Tourigny said. 'œWe were out of it, and I think we had a tough time bouncing back after.'ť

It was the second-fastest four-goal run in Flames franchise history, behind only a 1:21 span on Feb. 10, 1993, against San Jose.

'œIt was exciting not only for us. Think the fans are fired up. We were fired up,'ť Gaudreau said. 'œAt that point, it's only a three-goal game and we needed to keep pushing.'ť

Lindholm and Tkachuk each scored their 39th goals and Gaudreau had his 36th.

Calgary has seven games remaining in their regular season, including two at home.

'œWe still have a lot to play for,'ť Tkachuk said. 'œWe know we're in a position now where we're going to play a team that's going to have been playing well going into the playoffs to make it. Home ice is huge. We're playing for that and trying to play good hockey going into it.'ť

UP NEXT

Coyotes: Host Carolina on Monday night.

Flames: At Chicago Blackhawks on Monday night.

___

More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Arizona Coyotes' Barrett Hayton, centre, is checked by Calgary Flames' Noah Hanifin during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 16, 2022, in Calgary, Alberta. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

Arizona Coyotes goalie Harri Sateri, right, looks away as Calgary Flames' Matthew Tkachuk, center, celebrates after scoring during second-period NHL hockey game action in Calgary, Alberta, Saturday, April 16, 2022. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

Arizona Coyotes goalie Harri Sateri looks back as the Calgary Flames score during second-period NHL hockey game action in Calgary, Alberta, Saturday, April 16, 2022. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

Arizona Coyotes goalie Harri Sateri (30) looks to the scoreboard as Calgary Flames celebrate a goal during second-period NHL hockey game action in Calgary, Alberta, Saturday, April 16, 2022. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

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