Flyers 4, Flames 1
CALGARY, Alberta -- The Philadelphia Flyers will enjoy coming to Calgary more often with the new schedule.
At least they will if they continue their mastery of the Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
The Flyers completed a Western Canada sweep to ring out 2013 by dropping the Flames 4-1 Tuesday night.
The Flyers won their fifth consecutive road clash against the Flames. Calgary last beat Philadelphia on home ice March 22, 2001.
Flyers defenseman Mark Streit opened the scoring just past the three-minute mark with a seeing-eye point shot. Flames goalie Reto Berra had no chance to stop it with a slew of players in front of him.
Calgary finally snapped its goal-scoring drought at 159 minutes and 35 seconds when rookie forward Sean Monahan evened the count late in the second period. Monahan was sent down the wing by forward Paul Byron, who intercepted a pass from Flyers center Vincent Lecavalier. The Flames were blanked in their previous two games.
The visitors regained the lead before the middle frame expired. Center Brayden Schenn was on the spot in the slot to gain a loose puck, spun and fired a shot past Ramo at 18:31.
Left winger Scott Hartnell added to the lead with a third-period deflection for a Flyers team that beat both the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks via shootout to kick off their six-game road trip.
Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn scored into an empty net.
Philadelphia goalie Ray Emery stopped 23 shots to record the win, just his fourth in 12 decisions this season for the Flyers (20-16-4).
Ramo stopped 17 shots for the Flames (14-20-6).
NOTES: New Flames RW Kevin Westgarth, acquired Monday from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for 2008 first round pick RW Greg Nemisz, arrived in time to suit up and play on the fourth line with fellow tough customer RW Brian McGrattan and C Joe Colborne. ... McGrattan didn't receive any form of supplementary discipline for the major penalty he was assessed Sunday when his hit injured Vancouver Canucks D Andrew Alberts. McGrattan has never been suspended during his NHL career, an impressive feat considering his enforcer role ... Flyers rookie LW Michael Raffl was named to the Austrian team for the Olympics in Sochi, Russia. ... The Flames signed LW Emile Poirier, the 2013 first-round draft choice selected 22nd overall, the pick acquired in the trade that sent D Jay Bouwmeester to the St. Louis Blues. Poirier inked a three-year contract that will kick in when he turns pro. ... Flyers C Claude Giroux saw his nine-game point-scoring streak end. He produced six goals and 11 assists during the run.
