Friday, November 3, 2017

Smith makes 43 saves, Giordano scores in OT, Flames top Pens

Associated Press

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — It was another strong performance from Mike Smith on Thursday night.

Smith made 43 saves, Mark Giordano scored 2:19 into overtime and the Calgary Flames beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1.

“It was one of the best goalie performances I’ve seen in a long time,” Flames coach Glen Gulutzan said.

Giordano fired a perfect shot over Tristan Jarry’s glove off a pass by Matthew Tkachuk.

Sean Monahan also scored for Calgary, which is 2-1-0 during a seven-game homestand.

Patric Hornqvist had a goal for Pittsburgh, and Jarry made 32 saves in his first start of the season. The Penguins are 1-2-1 on a five-game trip.

Monahan made it 1-0 with 4:07 left in the third period, scoring on a power pay after Kris Letang went off for a high stick. He banked a shot in off a Penguins player seven seconds into the man advantage.

Letang helped get that one back. With 1:12 left, his point shot tipped off Hornqvist in front to tie it.

Smith was particularly good in the first period while the Penguins carried the play, outshooting Calgary 19-8. Highlights included a glove grab off Hornqvist from in-close, and he also jabbed out a pad to deny Carl Hagelin on a breakaway.

At the other end, with Matt Murray getting a rest after backstopping the Penguins to a 3-2 win Wednesday night in Edmonton, Jarry got his second career start.

Jarry was recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Oct. 30 when Antti Niemi was placed on waivers.

His biggest save came seven minutes into the third when he stared down rookie Mark Jankowski on a breakaway and jabbed out his right pad to thwart the big center’s deke attempt.

“It’s not the outcome I wanted. I thought I played well,” Jarry said. “I thought I played very well positionally. I thought I played tight and I thought it was a step in the right direction for me.”

Jankowski, Calgary’s first-round pick in 2012, was seeking his first NHL goal.

Shortly after, Jake Guentzel swooped in alone off the wing only to have Smith stop him with a great pad stop.

NOTES: Flames RW Troy Brouwer played in his 700th career game. ... Calgary RW Jaromir Jagr (lower body) missed his fifth game.

UP NEXT

Penguins: Finish season-high five-game trip Saturday night at Vancouver.
 

Flames: Host New Jersey on Sunday night.

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