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Flames dominate Ducks for second win on west-coast trip

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Calgary Flames forward Elias Lindholm celebrates his goal on the Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks came to play, but the visiting Calgary Flames’ top line came to dominate in a 4-2 Southern California win.

Leading Flames scorer Johnny Gaudreau assisted on goals by linemates Elias Lindholm and Matthew Tkachuk to raise his season points total to 97.

Lindholm’s marker, his team-leading 36th of the year, opened the scoring at 12:33 of the first period.

Winger Tyler Toffoli scored his 19th goal of the year on a deft backhand that beat Ducks goalie Anthony Stolarz high blocker side to put the Flames up 2-0 midway at 10:11 of the second period. Eight minutes later, top Ducks centre Trevor Zegras got his team on the board with his 18th goal of the season.

Stone’s first goal of season is winner

Defenceman Michael Stone re-established the Flames’ two-goal lead halfway through the third period with his first goal of the year. It would prove to be the eventual winner.

Ducks forward Adam Henrique would score a minute and a half later to make the score 3-2, but Anaheim couldn’t solve the solid goaltending of Jacob Markstrom the rest of the period.

Tkachuk, with his 33rd goal of 2021-22, added an insurance marker with the Ducks’ net empty and with 35 seconds left on the clock.

Stone, playing his seventh game of the season and 500th career NHL appearance, added an assist on Lindholm’s goal.

Markstrom stopped 26 shots for the Flames while Stolarz made 24 saves for the Ducks.

The win puts the first-place Flames (42-19-9: 93 Pts) six points ahead of the second-place Edmonton Oilers (41-25-5: 87 Pts) in the Pacific Division standings, with the Los Angeles Kings third (38-24-10: 86).

The Calgary Flames face a quick turnaround as their U.S. west coast trip continues tomorrow night in San Jose against the Sharks (8:30 p.m.) before it concludes Saturday in Seattle.