BRONCOS HONOURED

On Scotiabank Fan Appreciation Night, the Flames sent the paying patrons home happy.
Powered by freshman Mark Jankowski's four goals and 26 saves from rookie goaltender Jon Gillies, the homeside ended a disappointing season on a high note, dismantling the playoff-bound Las Vegas Golden Nights 7-1 at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

It was also a sombre evening where the team honoured the victims of Friday's tragic Humboldt Broncos bus crash, the players saying they were playing in honour of those who perished in the accident.
Pre-puck drop, both teams paid respects to the 15 individuals - players, coaches and team staff - from the Broncos who lost their lives, gathering together around centre-circle, side-by-side, for a moment's silence. All players wore Broncos' stickers on their helmets.

The game got off to a lively start, with Knights' centre Jonathan Marchessault frisking the puck off Spencer Foo and sailing in alone, only to find the door bolted shut by Gillies.
That miss proved costly for the visitors as in short order, Micheal Ferland shovelled a backhand pass across for a Gaudreau tap-in far post at 4:03, then - all of 10 seconds later - Gaudreau (on his forehand) arranged a carbon-copy for Jankowski, leaving Fleury nothing to do but fish the puck out of the net.
The assist was No. 60 on the season for the mercurial No. 13, making him the first Flame to reach that total since Theo Fleury had 66 tallies way back in 1992-93.
That goal - Jankowski's first in 10 game - was followed at 7:31 by his second of the evening - a pass attempt from the side of the net that banked in off Fleury.
Vegas shaved the deficit to two 51 seconds into the second period via centre Cody Eakin but Gillies maintained that gap, producing a couple of gems in quick succession, first stretching to stick his left pad out on a Brayden McNab point shot through traffic and then snaring an airborne rebound attempt from a falling Ryan Reaves from not far outside the blue paint.
Grateful for the let-off, his teammates responded. Calgary's fourth line chipped in, connecting on a lovely three-way passing play, a Curtis Lazar backhand shovel pass across to Matt Stajan and then back across to Garnet Hathaway for a third gimme on the night.
With parents John and Diane in the house after driving in from Edmonton, Spencer Foo then connected for his second in the past two games, igniting a "Foooooooooooooo!" chant around the 'Dome.
Jankowski completed his hat-trick at 18:06 of the second period, slotting home a gaffe from Vegas goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.
Following up his own angled shot, Jankowski was gifted the puck by a casual glove clearance attempt by Fleury.
Shorthanded, no less.
With the winds of fate gusting gale-force at his back - only 1:38 into the third period - he was at it again, befuddling Malcolm Subban, who started the frame in place of a beleaguered Fleury.
And he narrowly missed netting a fifth, thwarted by a stellar Subban stop with 56 seconds remaining.

OFFICERS RECOGNIZED:

The team recognized five Calgary police officers Saturday night who were in attendance - constables Mathew Spyce, Richard Slack, Camella Budzinski, Rock Benoit and Jordan Forget - who responded to an attempted carjacking in Abbeydale last month. Forget was shot and wounded during the response but will make a full recovery, thanks in large part to the quick action of his colleagues.