Flames 4, Panthers 3 (SO)
CALGARY, Alberta --Two shootouts for Sean Monahan. Two game-winning goals.
The Calgary Flames rookie center, who has been the biggest positive in an already difficult season, was the hero yet again for the Calgary Flames in a 4-3 shootout win over the Florida Panthers on Friday night.
Monahan, who scored the winner a few games earlier in Winnipeg, ripped a top-shelf effort in the sixth round for the difference-making tally before the announced sellout crowd of 19,289 at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
The Flames are among the worst teams in the NHL in shootouts and struggled mightily at home over the years, with only seven shootout wins on home ice among their 28-44 record in them.
The result capped another wacky game in the Stampede City.
Florida took advantage of yet another poor first-period performance by the Flames -- held to just three shots on home ice for the second time in five games -- when defenseman Tom Gilbert tallied for a Panthers team that has opened the scoring only seven times this season.
However, the Flames, facing a team which had played the night before for the fifth straight outing, regrouped after the first intermission and appeared headed for an easy win after taking a 3-1 lead.
Center Joe Colborne made it goals in consecutive games when he was on the spot for a loose puck and slammed a top-corner shot over the glove to Panthers netminder Tim Thomas, and then, much-maligned rookie left winger Sven Baertschi snapped a 15-game goal scoring drought with a power-play tally.
Center Blair Jones, who was in the minors all season and leading the AHL Abbotsford Heat in points, scored early in the third period to give the Flames a two-goal edge.
However, right winger Jimmy Hayes started a Panthers comeback by taking advantage of a ill-timed and poorly executed poke check by Flames goalie Reto Berra, and then center Marcel Goc tied the game with less than six minutes remaining in regulation.
Berra, who made his sixth consecutive start, made 22 saves for the Flames (8-11-4).
Thomas stopped 23 shots for the Panthers (6-13-5), who return home after a five-game road swing.
NOTES: The Flames acquired LW Lane MacDermid from the Dallas Stars in exchange for a sixth round-draft choice in 2014. MacDermid was assigned to the AHL Abbotsford Heat. The move comes a day after the Flames traded RW Tim Jackman to the Anaheim Ducks for a 2014 sixth-round draft choice. ... Florida RW Tomas Kopecky (upper body) and C Jesse Winchester (lower body) were both injured in the Edmonton game the night before and didn't play. In turn, the Panthers suited up C Scott Gomez and LW Sean Bergenheim. ... The Flames recalled C Blair Jones from the minors. Jones, who spent much of last season in the minors despite having a one-way contract, was leading the Heat with 20 points. He netted 18 points in the last 14 games before being summoned. ... Florida's struggles in the second period reared its ugly head again. With Calgary scoring twice in the middle frame, the Panthers have been outscored 31-14 in the second period.
