Flames fire record 62 shots on goal, rout Blue Jackets 6-0
Matthew Tkachuk scored twice and the Calgary Flames fired a team-record 62 shots on goal in trouncing the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-0 Wednesday night.
It was the most by a visiting team in a regular-season game since the NHL started tracking shots on goal in 1955-56, according to STATS.
Jacob Markstrom made 23 saves for his 13th career shutout, sending the Blue Jackets to their third straight loss and fourth in a row at home. Calgary bombarded Columbus goalie Elvis Merzlikins, who stopped 56 shots.
"That's 60 minutes of really well-played hockey," Markstrom said. "The guys played great."
Andrew Mangiapane, Mikael Backlund, Elias Lindholm and Erik Gudbranson added goals for the Flames, who have won three of four. Johnny Gaudreau had three assists.
Markstrom is undefeated in four starts against Columbus, and the Flames have won the last five matchups between the teams.
"You don't have to dissect this," Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said. "They were the better team. They had the puck all night. We were not nearly good enough.
"Guys are trying. It certainly wasn't good enough."
Backlund got the scoring started at 4:21 of the first period, beating Merzlikins stick side for his fourth goal of the season and first since Nov. 21.
Mangiapane made it 2-0 at 15:14 with a deflection that stood after a replay challenge for a high stick. It was his 19th of the season, 18 of which have come on the road.
Tkachuk's shot with 5.2 seconds left in the second put Calgary up 3-0.
"They scored some highlight goals for sure," Flames coach Darryl Sutter said. "Johnny was full control of the puck when Matthew was going to the net, and when you look, that's a big goal that he scores. That gives you such an advantage, and that's a slick play that he scores on."
Columbus failed to get a shot on goal in the second until 8:50 remained in the period. Merzlikins faced 39 shots through two.
Calgary made it 4-0 just 30 seconds into the third when Lindholm converted Gaudreau's rebound.
Gudbranson's shot from the blue line at 6:55, his first goal of the season, made it 5-0. Tkachuk scored his team-leading 20th at 7:36.
Gaudreau extended his point streak to six games and leads the Flames with 35 assists to go with 16 goals.
MARKING MILESTONES
Lindholm's goal was the 400th point of his career and extended his point streak to four games. ... Mangiapane's goal marked his 100th career point.
LONG TIME, NO SEE
It was the first meeting between the teams since Calgary won at home in overtime on March 4, 2020. The Flames last visited Nationwide Arena on Nov. 2, 2019.
INJURY UPDATE
Columbus forward Alexandre Texier left in the second period with an upper-body injury and did not return. Larson said Texier will be out "a little bit."
FLAMES ON FIRE
Gaudreau and Tkachuk have combined for 22 points in the last four games. Tkachuk has four goals and eight assists, while Gaudreau has one goal and nine assists.
OVERMATCHED
Columbus has been outscored 24-7 in its last four games. ... The 23 shots Merlikins faced in the second were the most given up by Columbus in a period this season.
CLEARED
Adam Boqvist returned from COVID-19 protocol, giving the Blue Jackets no players on the list.
HE SAID IT
"It's almost easy to play well when the team is playing well. There are certain times in the season, and this is one of those times, the team is not playing great and I have to look at that and be the guy who sparks the team. I am frustrated with how I played." - Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski.
UP NEXT
Flames: At the St. Louis Blues on Thursday.
Blue Jackets: Host the first-place New York Rangers on Thursday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor qualifies Canada for Paralympics in rowing event
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
Baby boom amongst nurses leads to maternity ward closure in Listowel, Ont.
The emergency room at Listowel’s hospital is open today, but come summer, their obstetrics unit will be temporarily closing its delivery rooms.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.