ANAHEIM – Goalie Jacob Markstrom celebrated his 200th NHL career win with a shutout, leading the Calgary Flames to a 3-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center on Thursday. This achievement marked his 19th NHL shutout and first since March, playing a pivotal role in extending the Flames’ winning streak to three games.
Elias Lindholm was a standout for Calgary (14-14-5), contributing a goal and two assists. Nick DeSimone scored his first NHL goal, helping the team end a four-game road skid. “It was a complete team effort tonight,” Markstrom said, praising his team’s penalty kill and defensive plays.
Lukas Dostal made 41 saves for the Ducks (12-20-0), who couldn’t sustain the momentum from their previous two wins. Anaheim coach Greg Cronin criticized the team’s performance, citing poor execution and mistakes. “We struggled with basic plays, which cost us the game,” Cronin said.
The Ducks faced a setback when rookie forward Leo Carlsson, the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, was injured after a collision with Flames defenseman MacKenzie Weegar. The extent of Carlsson’s injury was a concern for the team.
Calgary opened the scoring early in the first period with DeSimone’s one-timer, assisted by Connor Zary. “I just needed to be ready for Zary’s pass, and it worked out perfectly,” DeSimone said.
Lindholm’s second-period power-play goal extended the Flames’ lead, showcasing their control over the game. “We managed to dictate the pace after the first period,” Lindholm noted.
A.J. Greer’s empty-net goal in the third period sealed the win for Calgary, underscoring the Ducks’ challenges in puck battles and defense.
The game also saw notable achievements and records. DeSimone became the fourth-oldest Flames player to score his first NHL goal and the oldest since Pavel Torgayev in 1995. Lindholm became the first Calgary player with multiple power-play goals this season.
The Flames’ recent dominance over the Ducks was evident, with a 9-1-1 record in their last 11 meetings. Markstrom, drafted in 2008, joined an elite group of Swedish goalies with 200 NHL wins and is the second goalie from his draft class to reach this milestone.
For the Ducks, the game added to their struggles, as they were penalized for too many men on the ice, reflecting ongoing issues with bench minors this season. Dostal’s performance, despite the loss, was notable as he faced seven Calgary power plays.
For Calgary, the win is a boost to their confidence and momentum as they aim to climb higher in the standings. The Ducks, meanwhile, will look to regroup and address their execution issues in upcoming games.
