It took a couple of guys who know their way around United Center for the Calgary Flames to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 in a shootout. Kris Versteeg scored in the seventh round and goalie Brian Elliott didn't allow a shootout goal to help the Flames (2-4-1) avoid a three-game losing streak.
Versteeg, a former Blackhawks forward, deked Chicago goalie Corey Crawford to the ice and tucked the puck past his left pad after a combined 13 failed attempts. It rewarded Elliott, who led the St. Louis Blues past the Blackhawks last season in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Elliott's biggest save was at the end of regulation. He denied Blackhawks forward Richard Panik with a sprawling skate save to force overtime. Elliott then helped the Flames kill a penalty in overtime, making six saves. Patrick Kane and Brian Campbell scored for the Blackhawks (3-3-1). Crawford made 29 saves.
Sam Bennett and Sean Monahan had goals for Calgary, which took a 1-0 lead at 4:51 of the first period on Bennett's goal.
* Versteeg showed patience on his goal in the shootout, waiting for Crawford to drop to the ice and pulling the puck back to his right to tuck it around the left pad.
"We've known each other for 11 years. He kind of knows everything. I just kind of blacked out, I don't really know what I was doing. I guess it worked." said Versteeg, who played with Crawford in the minor leagues and with the Blackhawks.
"It was just a rebound right to him in the slot and I just tried to throw the furniture at it and got a piece of it with my skate." Elliott said.
Kris Versteeg: "A lot of emotions. It's very special to me. Some of my best friends in the game of hockey are from here. I was laughing after I got booed, right when I was about to go. It was pretty funny. These fans have been nothing but amazing to me, and I thank them for everything. It was real fun."
Sam Bennett and Sean Monahan had goals for Calgary, which took a 1-0 lead at 4:51 of the first period on Bennett's goal.
It was the second power-play goal of the season for the Flames, who were 1-for-25 in their first six games and ranked 30th in the NHL. It was the 13th goal allowed in 22 times shorthanded for the Blackhawks, who went 3-for-5 on penalty kills and are 30th in the League. After Kane tied it at 1:32 of the second period with a one-timer, Monahan gave the Flames a 2-1 lead at 6:52 on another power play. Calgary got three more power plays in the second but couldn't capitalize, including a four-minute man-advantage with 5:14 left after Tyler Motte was called for a high-sticking double minor. Campbell tied it 2-2 at 4:12 of the third with his first goal of the season.
* Versteeg showed patience on his goal in the shootout, waiting for Crawford to drop to the ice and pulling the puck back to his right to tuck it around the left pad.
"We've known each other for 11 years. He kind of knows everything. I just kind of blacked out, I don't really know what I was doing. I guess it worked." said Versteeg, who played with Crawford in the minor leagues and with the Blackhawks.
* Panik nearly pushed his goal total for the season to seven with time running out in regulation. He got to the rebound of a shot by Marian Hossa and sent a quick wrist shot toward the net. Elliott sprawled to make a skate save just before time expired.
* Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook made a nice play at the blue line prior to Campbell's goal in the third period. He held the puck in the offensive zone and got it to Kane for the pass to Campbell.
* The Blackhawks made Flames defenseman Deryk Engelland pay for a turnover early in the second period. He sent the puck off the half wall, but it bounced out to Chicago center Artem Anisimov in the left faceoff circle. Anisimov sent it to Kane for a one-timer that eluded Elliott's outstretched glove.
* Blackhawks rookie defenseman Gustav Forsling left the game after taking a hit along the boards in the neutral zone by Flames center Lance Bouma. Forsling didn't return and is day-to-day because of an upper-body injury.
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