Hawks explode in third period for 3-2 comeback vs Flames

CALGARY—Patrick Kane scored twice, including the tiebreaking goal with 18 seconds left, and the Blackhawks rallied for three consecutive goals in the third period to beat the Calgary Flames 3-2 on Wednesday night.Patrick Sharp also scored for the Blackhawks (18-4-4), the top team in the NHL. The defending Stanley Cup champions improved to 4-1-0 with two stops to go on their seven-game road trip.Matt Stajan and Sean Monahan scored for the Flames, who are 1-5-2 in their past eight home games.After Sven Baertschi lost the puck at the Calgary blue line, a shot from Niklas Hjalmarsson caromed sharply off the skate of Flames defenseman Chris Butler. The puck went straight to Kane at the side of the net, where he spun and lifted a backhand over goalie Reto Berra.Just when it appeared the Hawks might be shut out for the first time in 93 games, the Blackhawks struck for two goals 56 seconds apart to tie the game and silence the crowd at the Scotiabank Saddledome.Kane dashed down the left wing and as he attempted to send a centering pass to Andrew Shaw in front, the puck deflected off the stick of Flames defenseman Kris Russell instead and beat a surprised Berra inside the post at 9:42 of the third.On the next shift, Marian Hossa sent a pass into the slot that Sharp redirected past Berra, and suddenly the teams were even.Ahead 1-0 entering the third period, Calgary added to its lead at 2:05 on Monahan’s ninth goal. Taking a drop pass from Jiri Hudler, the Flames’ rookie fired a shot just inside the post to beat Antti Raanta.Monahan is tied with Mike Cammalleri for the team lead in goals with nine.Raanta finished with 20 saves in his first NHL start. Recalled from the minors on Nov. 17 when Nikolai Khabibulin went on injured reserve, Raanta stopped 14 of 16 shots in his only previous appearance a week ago in Colorado in relief of Corey Crawford.Berra made his 10th start in the last 11 games for the Flames. He finished with 27 saves and fell to 3-5-2.It was Berra’s second start against the Hawks. In his memorable NHL debut on Nov. 3, he made 42 saves in a 3-2 overtime victory at the United Center.As is Bob Hartley’s style when he’s playing at home with the last line change, the Calgary coach matched top line against top line and got a great night from the Flames’ trio of Stajan, Lee Stempniak and Cammalleri.Up against Jonathan Toews, Hossa and Sharp for most of the game, the Flames’ unit stifled them offensively through the first two periods while creating several scoring chances for themselves.Calgary opened the scoring at 13:32 of the second. Stajan found himself some open space in the slot and one-timed a centering pass from Hudler for his fourth goal of the season.

NOTES—Hossa returned to the lineup after missing two games for personal reasons. … The Flames placed LW TJ Galiardi (back) on injured reserve and recalled forward Max Reinhart from Abbotsford (AHL). … Calgary D Mark Giordano (broken ankle) is back skating with the club, although it’s unclear when he will return. LW Curtis Glencross (knee) hopes to be back on the ice next week. The two veterans have missed 16 and nine games, respectively. … The Flames were coming off four days off. Other than the Olympic break, they will not go that long between games the rest of the season.