Flames score 5 goals in 1st period again to down Jets
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) Sam Bennett had the go-ahead goal and the Calgary Flames scored five times in the first period of a 6-3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday night.
Dillon Dube, Matthew Tkachuk, Mark Jankowski, Johnny Gaudreau and Derek Ryan, with an empty netter, also scored for Calgary (13-8-1), which moved back into first place in the Pacific Division.
The Flames became the fourth team in NHL history and first in nearly 30 years to score five or more goals in consecutive first periods. Calgary also scored five times in the first Monday against Vegas in a 7-2 win.
The St. Louis Blues were the last team to accomplish the feat back in November 1989.
Making his third consecutive start with struggling Mike Smith on the bench, David Rittich finished with 37 saves to improve to 8-1-0. He's won five straight.
Patrik Laine scored two goals and Brandon Tanev had the other one for Winnipeg (12-6-2).
Tanev took advantage of poor defensive coverage and scored on his own rebound just 15 seconds into the game.
Dube's first NHL goal tied it less than two minutes later. He ended his drought in his 17th game, firing Jankowski's centering pass behind goalie Connor Hellebuyck.
The Flames took the lead for good at 8:20 of the first when Bennett ripped a 25-foot wrist shot into the top corner.
Next shift out, Bennett combined with TJ Brodie to set up Tkachuk, whose shot leaked through Hellebuyck's glove, making it 3-1 and ending the evening for the Jets goaltender. He exited after giving up three goals on nine shots.
It was the first multipoint game of the season for Bennett, responding well after being promoted to the second line with Tkachuk and Mikael Backlund at the start of the homestand. Half of Bennett's eight points this season have come in the past four games.
Down 5-1, Winnipeg started to chip away at the lead, beginning with Laine's one-timer with 14 seconds remaining in the second period.
On a nearly identical-looking goal, only this time on the power play and off a setup by Dustin Byfuglien, Laine's 13th of the season 6:17 into the third drew the Jets within two.
Laurent Brossoit stopped 14 shots in relief of Hellebuyck. He took the loss to fall to 3-1-1.
NOTES: Flames forward Michael Frolik (lower body) was scratched and replaced by Austin Czarnik. ... Calgary entered the night as the only NHL team to have five players with at least 20 points. ... For the Jets, it was just the second regulation loss in their last 20 games against Pacific Division opponents (15-2-3).
UP NEXT
Jets: Have split the first two games of a four-game trip that continues Friday in Minnesota.
Flames: Play at Vegas on Friday.
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