The Calgary Flames used a three-goal second period to defeat the Florida Panthers 4-2 on Friday night to extend their NHL-best winning streak to six games.
The @NHLFlames extended their season-high win streak to six games, the longest active run in the NHL. #NHLStats #CGYvsFLA pic.twitter.com/gkhVihKLMM
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 13, 2018
Sean Monahan, Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau scored for Calgary in the middle frame, providing all the support backup goaltender David Rittich would need. Rittich stopped 41 of the 43 shots that he faced and improved to 4-1 on the season behind veteran starter Mike Smith.
"I knew we got five in a row before this game and I wanted to keep it up so I tried to show my best." #CGYvsFLA pic.twitter.com/VLL51v8ffY
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) January 13, 2018
Florida forward Evgenii Dadonov gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead just 27 seconds into the second period, but it only lasted 33 seconds, as Monahan scored the first of three unanswered goals. Dadonov scored his second of the night to cut Calgary's lead to 3-2 with six minutes to play, but the Flames held on and Mikael Backlund scored an empty-net goal to seal the two points.
Florida outshot Calgary 43-29, but Rittich made the difference in the battle of two backup netminders. The Flames will likely go back to Mike Smith when they look for their seventh consecutive win in Carolina on Sunday afternoon.