Hossa Knocks In Go-Ahead Goal, Blackhawks Beat Flames 3-2

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Marian Hossa has been in the NHL long enough to knows how to make a goal out of seemingly nothing.

Hossa's team-leading 10th goal of the season with 2:23 left in the third period lifted the Chicago Blackhawks to a 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames on Friday night.

Chad Johnson threw up his glove to stop a hard shot from Artemi Panarin but the puck went off the top of his glove and high in the air. It ended up landing behind him where Hossa got his stick on it for his 80th game-winning goal.

"I don't think the goalie knew exactly where the puck was and the defender tried to put his stick out," Hossa said. "I tried to hook on his stick so he doesn't touch the puck and the puck just bounced pretty much close to the goal line and I just tried to put it underneath me in the net."

As the puck trickled over the line, Hossa was in the crease and in the process of falling on the Flames goaltender.

Calgary coach Glen Gulutzan said he would have challenged for goaltender interference but he did not have a timeout left, having used it earlier in the period.

Hossa, who has five goals in his last six games, is tied for fourth in the NHL in goals behind Patrik Laine (12), Sidney Crosby (11) and Michael Grabner (11).

"I just try to put the puck at the net right now," Hossa said. "When you feel like the puck's going in for you, you just try to be around the net or shoot pucks to the net and try to make plays."

It's nothing Chicago coach Joel Quenneville hasn't seen before.

"He's scored some goals from right around that net here to get us a point or two and tonight's a good illustration of how important he's been for us," he said.

Ryan Hartman and Brent Seabrook also scored for Chicago, which has points in 12 of its last 13 (10-1-2) games. Corey Crawford stopped 28 shots.

Sam Bennett and Sean Monahan scored for Calgary, and Johnson had 21 saves.

"These ones are tough games. I thought we played well," Gulutzan said. "We needed a little bit more out of our special teams, but overall, we played a good game, it's just unfortunate what happened."

Down 1-0 after the first period, Calgary took the lead early in the second with two goals 3:30 apart from its new-look top line. With Johnny Gaudreau sidelined six weeks with a broken finger, Bennett has been inserted into his spot on left wing with Monahan and Troy Brouwer.

Bennett jammed a loose puck past Corey Crawford at 3:33 from a scramble in the crease that was all set up by a dangerous rush from defenseman TJ Brodie.

On their next shift, Monahan was credited with his fifth goal when his centering pass deflected in off the skate of Blackhawks defenseman Gustav Forsling at 7:03.

Chicago tied it with about 5 1/2 minutes left in the second when Seabrook blasted a slap shot past Johnson, who was screened by Giordano.

It was a power-play goal for Chicago and came on the Blackhawks' first man advantage of the night.

"It's the same old story with special teams. We've got to be better. If we get one on the power play, it might be a different outcome," said Bennett. "It's tough to swallow right now, especially when we played a good game like we did tonight."

Special teams once again let down the Flames. Their 30th ranked power play failed to score on five chances against the 30th ranked Chicago penalty kill — while the 28th ranked penalty kill gave up one goal on one chance.

The Blackhawks nearly scored in the opening minute of the first period but video review showed that Mark Giordano pulled the puck off the goal-line before it bounced past a sprawled Johnson.

Hartman then gave Chicago the 1-0 lead at 7:42 when he got behind Dennis Wideman, took a perfect breakaway pass from Artem Anisimov, and while fending off the Flames defenseman, fired a shot inside the goal post.

NOTES: Flames LW Kris Versteeg (groin) took part in morning skate and is nearing a return. He's missed seven games ... Calgary has gone 10 games without a goal from a defenseman. ... Chicago LW Tyler Motte (lower body) missed his fifth game, but coach Joel Quenneville says he's a possibility to play Saturday.

UP NEXT

Blackhawks: At Vancouver on Saturday night in the third game of a seven-game trip.

Flames: At Detroit on Saturday night in the opener of a six-game trip.

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