Red Wings Get Shut Out In Calgary

Jacob Markstrom stopped all 33 shots Detroit took Thursday night in the Calgary Flames' 3-0 victory over the Red Wings.

Markstrom recorded his ninth career shutout in his 12th season in the NHL. He'd allowed seven goals with a .881 save percentage in Calgary's first two games, but the rangy goalie had an answer for every challenge in this game.

EDMONTON, AB - OCTOBER 16: Goaltender Jacob Markstrom #25 of the Calgary Flames skates against the Edmonton Oilers during the second period at Rogers Place on October 16, 2021 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)

"Jacob, with the saves he had, slowed the game down for us," Flames coach Darryl Sutter said. "I think he made important saves at critical times."

Markstrom said he didn't like his last outing, "so it was important to have ... a good performance."

The Flames, who never trailed, took control of the game midway through the second period.

Left-wing Johnny Gaudreau set up the first goal by center Elias Lindholm by backhanding the puck through the skates of Red Wings defenseman Danny DeKeyser. Lindholm received it in front of Alex Nedeljkovic and fired a shot over the goalie's left shoulder for his third of the season at 10:06.

Calgary defenseman Erik Gudbranson, who assisted on that goal, did it again on Andrew Mangiapane's goal about four minutes later. Gudbranson blasted a shot on Nedeljkovic, and Mangiapane backhanded the rebound into the net for his second of the season.

EDMONTON, AB - OCTOBER 16: Andrew Mangiapane #88 of the Calgary Flames skates against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period at Rogers Place on October 16, 2021 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)

"Today, we went to the net," Mangiapane said. "And that's where goals are scored, right?"

Matthew Tkachuk added an empty-netter with about two minutes left in the game after Detroit pulled its goalie.

Detroit had scored three, four, and six goals in its first three games, but couldn't get the puck past Markstrom in this one.

"The Wings have been successful and they come out going hot," Markstrom said. "I was prepared to be a lot better than I was the other night and improve every game. And the (defense) kept the rebounds away from them."

Sutter noted that the Red Wings hadn't yet lost in regulation in the young season.

"They have a lot of energy and a lot of speed, and use the building to their advantage," he said. "But once we got past that, we were pretty good tonight."

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 19: Moritz Seider #53 of the Detroit Red Wings skates against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Little Caesars Arena on October 19, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Detroit ended up with a 33-28 advantage in shots. Fourteen of those came in the second period, especially with two power-play opportunities. Defenseman Moritz Seider had one of Detroit's better chances when he fired a point-blank shot right into Markstrom's midsection.

Detroit captain Dylan Larkin credited Markstrom's performance.

"The whole game felt really choppy. We have to be way sharper, but Calgary played a good road game," he said. "They hadn't won yet, so they were desperate."

In the third period, the Red Wings' first shot on the net didn't come until nearly eight minutes had passed.

"I thought we created enough chances in the first two periods to score, but we didn't score," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. "In the third, they did a good job of finishing a road win. They put the puck in our zone and made us work 200 feet for everything. We didn't shoot enough pucks.

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - MAY 20: Jeff Blashill, head coach of the United States looks on during the 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Bronze Medal Game game between the United States and Canada at Royal Arena on May 20, 2018 in Copenhagen, Denmark. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)

"We didn't handle their pressure good enough. When we (had) chances to attack, we didn't attack. When we (had) chances to make plays, we didn't make plays, and we turned the puck over too many times when we didn't need to do that."

Markstrom was the second-round pick of the Florida Panthers in 2008 and broke in with the Panthers before spending six seasons with the Vancouver Canucks. He joined Calgary last season, and had a career-high three shutouts.

UP NEXT

Flames: Play at Washington on Saturday afternoon.

Red Wings: Travel to Montreal on Saturday night.

 

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