Flames full of swagger after impressive win over Jets

The Calgary Flames scored five goals in the first period again and defeated the Winnipeg Jets.

CALGARY – This time the comeback wasn’t the story.

Nor was the stellar netminding.

On Wednesday the Dome discourse revolved entirely around a spectacularly similar conversation to the one Flames fans had Monday when the lads scored five times in the opening period against Vegas.

On Wednesday against Winnipeg they did it again.

A franchise first.

In fact, it marked the first time since the 1989 St. Louis Blues that a team posted back-to-back games featuring five-goal periods.

It capped a five-period stint in which the Flames scored 15 goals, dating back to the third frame of Saturday’s Battle of Alberta comeback.

Just like Saturday, Wednesday’s 6-3 win over Winnipeg also involved a rally as the Flames actually found themselves down 1-0 a mere 15 seconds in thanks to a Brandon Tanev rebound conversion.

The Dome Groan suggested people were bracing for an abrupt end to the recent run that has catapulted the Flames up the standings.

But what followed in the next 17 minutes launched the hosts into first place in the Pacific Division with a 13-8-1 record.

Two minutes in Dillon Dube scored his first NHL goal to kick-start the five-spot, which included a brilliant, top-cheese snipe by Sam Bennett, followed by a long-range wrister off the glove of Connor Hellebuyck that understandably ended the netminder’s night 11:35 in.

Mark Jankowski solved Laurent Brossoit soon thereafter, as did Johnny Gaudreau with a short-side roof job in the final minute of the first that had the crowd giddy.

The Blues club that made previous history with its double fivers included former Flame Dave Lowry, whose son Adam was part of the Jets team that rebounded well in the second period, outshooting the Flames 17-3.

It was then Flames backup revelation, David Rittich, did what he’s done to up his record to 8-1 – he played the hero.

The man they call Big Save Dave finished with 37 saves, but not before Patrik Laine scored twice and the Jets rattled two off the iron early in the third. Without Rittich’s stellar play, the five-goal opener might not have been enough.

The ever-animated Rittich – who kissed the post after one fortuitous bounce – admitted he made one big mistake on the night.

Late in the second period the Flames goalie took exception to a late tap of the glove by Dustin Byfuglien, seconds after the whistle.

Rittich snapped, jumping up and racing towards Big Buff in a rage.

"That was bad by me because I just felt someone’s stick on my glove and I just got up and want to let them know… and then I see 33. That was a little bit of a scary moment," he laughed.

"I saw couple videos from last playoffs and how he took two guys in two hands and go fight with them. That was a really bad pick by me.”

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Six minutes into the third it appeared for a few seconds the Jets’ second-half onslaught had brought them within one. However, it was waved off because Jacob Trouba clipped Rittich’s skate, causing him to fall before the puck slid in.

Potential disaster averted, leaving the Flames to seal the deal with an empty-netter that should have the club feeling on top of the world as they head to Vegas and Phoenix for the next two.

"It’s a great feeling – especially nice when you’re getting contributions from all the lines," said Bennett, the game’s first star, who has goals in consecutive outings as a second-liner.

"The confidence is definitely pretty good right now."

Michael Frolik was scratched due to a lower-body injury and Bennett left the game briefly after blocking a Byfuglien blast with his arm. He was going for x-rays after the game.

Otherwise, the Flames move on with nothing but swagger.

"Our line got the first goal there to kind of get the momentum back and the top two lines did the rest," beamed Dube, wearing the Calgary Police Service hat as awarded by his teammates.

"At this point (the first goal) is more of a relief than anything – it definitely felt good."

The win moved the Flames to 7-3-1 at home and pushed Rittich’s remarkable start to 8-1, with no end in sight to his three-game run of starts that will surely continue Friday afternoon in Vegas.

"That’s maybe the best team I ever played," said Rittich.

"We have three wins in a row and everyone in our locker room is feeling great."

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