Flames fire franchise-record 62 shots in dominant win over Blue Jackets
Tkachuk, Gaudreau extend point streaks to 6 games in 6-0 clinic against Columbus
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.
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.
WATCH | Gaudreau sets up Lindholm with gorgeous assist:
"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.
Shocking absolutely no one, Chucky and Johnny have combined for yet another goal. <a href="https://t.co/p8prsWJ3Vb">pic.twitter.com/p8prsWJ3Vb</a>
—@NHLFlames"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."
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.
