Flames top Penguins in seven-round shootout

CALGARY --Milan Lucic scored, and the Calgary Flames defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 in a shootout at Scotiabank Saddledome on Monday.

Jacob Markstrom made 21 saves for the Flames (13-4-5), who are 6-1-1 in their past eight games.
"We have fun here," Lucic said. "It's a good win and everything's a lot more fun when you're winning."
Jake Guentzel scored, and Tristan Jarry made 31 saves for the Penguins (10-7-5), who have lost two in a row after winning their previous five.
"We didn't like our game tonight," Guentzel said. "I think Tristan played an unbelievable game. Kept us in the game all game. We know we have to be better. Just to get a point, I think it's a big point for us with a chance in the shootout. Just to come out of it with that, we'll take it."

Mikael Backlund shot over Jarry's glove in the seventh round of the shootout before Markstrom stopped Brock McGinn for the win.
"I just checked a little bit before, kind of where he's been letting goals in," Backlund said. "I tried the move in practice and scored on 'Marky,' so I figured if I can score on Marky I can do it on this guy, too.
"You're always ready to get the call to go, not that I'm expecting with my record, 0-for-7 before today, I wasn't expecting to get picked early, but when I heard my name, I got excited."
Johnny Gaudreau had two chances to win it for the Flames in overtime. He hit the crossbar at 1:16, and Jarry stopped him with his glove from the edge of the crease at 3:54.
"[Jarry has] played a lot of good ones, but he certainly played well tonight," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "He helped us earn an important point."
Lucic put Calgary ahead 1-0 at 9:44 of the second period. Shortly after Markstrom made a shoulder save on a redirection from Jason Zucker, Lucic skated into the left circle on a rush and beat Jarry five-hole.

The Flames have scored the opening goal in an NHL-high 18 games this season.
"It gets you the lead again," Calgary coach Darryl Sutter said. "Two close checking teams, play similar styles. Whoever gets the lead is probably going to persevere in the end."
Guentzel tied it 1-1 at 12:35 of the third period when his redirection of a pass from Sidney Crosby in the slot deflected off the leg of Chris Tanev. Guentzel has scored 11 points (six goals, five assists) during a 10-game point streak, the longest active in the NHL.
His goal came after Jarry made a lunging blocker save on Matthew Tkachuk's rebound attempt at 6:26. Jarry is 5-0-1 with a 0.49 goals-against average and .983 save percentage (three goals on 175 shots) in his past six starts.
"[Jarry] has been great for us," Pittsburgh forward Jeff Carter said. "He's the reason we got a point tonight for sure. We didn't have our best and he held us in the game until we could get one."
NOTES: Penguins forward Dominik Simon, who was playing in his 200th NHL game, left in the third period after blocking a shot from Rasmus Andersson. There was no update postgame. ... Flames forward Elias Lindholm had his seven-game point streak end, and Gaudreau had his six-game point streak end. ... Pittsburgh forward Brian Boyle was a late scratch and is day to day with an upper-body injury.