Noah Hanifin recorded four assists to lead the Calgary Flames to a 4-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, marking their fourth consecutive win.
Blake Coleman, Trevor Lewis, and Michael Stone all scored, with Hanifin providing the primary assistance. Hanifin also added a secondary assist on Tyler Toffoli’s short-handed, empty-net goal that sealed the game. Jacob Markstrom made 27 saves for Calgary. Karson Kuhlman scored the lone goal for Seattle, while Philipp Grubauer stopped 25 shots.
“Before we went on this road trip, we weren’t satisfied with our performance,” Hanifin said. “We didn’t play our best during the last week at home. Getting out on the road and having a fresh start was good for us. These were crucial points tonight.”
Calgary coach Daryl Sutter noted that the team was seeking respect, and their 4-0 road run should help them earn it.
“It was a tough game today,” Sutter said. “This was our fourth game in five and a half days. It required a lot of hard work.”
The teams will complete their home-and-home series on Tuesday night in Calgary. The Flames have already won all three matchups against the Kraken this season, while Seattle has lost four of its last six games.
Coleman started the scoring at 3:55 into the first period, deflecting Hanifin’s shot from the blue line past a screened Grubauer. Kuhlman quickly tied the game just 1:05 later, one-timing Morgan Geekie’s pass from behind the net over Markstrom’s stick.
Late in the first period, Hanifin made a deep run and delivered a quick pass to Trevor Lewis, who was stationed in front of the net and scored with 16.5 seconds left, giving Calgary a 2-1 lead.
“That’s a tough goal to give up,” Seattle coach Dave Hakstol said. “We’ve got to be — I’ll use the word ‘stiffer’ — just plain and simple. We can’t allow that goal.”
Stone extended the Flames’ lead to 3-1 with a power-play goal at 8:39 of the second period, finishing a cross-ice pass from Hanifin with a one-timer from the left faceoff circle.
Calgary secured the win by killing off three Seattle power plays late in the second period, including a 54-second 5-on-3 advantage.
“We fell behind by a couple, and from that point on, the guy in their net became the difference in the game,” Hakstol said, referring to Markstrom.
NOTES
Hanifin recorded three or more assists for the second time this season. Kuhlman has had two goals in his last four games. Calle Jarnkrok (illness) was a game-time scratch for the Flames. Jarnkrok, who was acquired from Seattle at the trade deadline, would have been the first former Kraken player to face the expansion team.
UP NEXT
- Flames: Host Seattle on Tuesday night.
- Kraken: Play at Calgary on Tuesday night.
