'Tender Moment

He didn't save his best for last.

But he did make one of his best saves late in Saturday night's game.

Jacob Markstrom was absolutely stellar from the opening faceoff to the final buzzer in a 1-0 victory over the Blackhawks at the Scotiabank Saddledome, making 32 saves - including one with less than six seconds left, denying Jason Dickinson right in tight to preserve the win.

It was his 20th career shutout. 

The victory snapped a four-game losing streak, giving the team a big two points as they head into the NHL's All-Star break, their next game not coming till Feb. 6 in Boston.

Elias Lindholm scored for the Flames, notching his ninth of the campaign in the second period, a welcome powerplay marker for a club that has been trying to kickstart the man-up game.

Following the tilt, the Flames announced Martin Pospisil had come off the IR, while Matt Coronato, Adam Klapka and Cole Schwindt has been assigned to the AHL's Wranglers.

Markstrom was tested early in the tilt - a sign of things to come - making a stretching toe save on Boris Katchouk’s breakaway attempt just over two minutes in.

Jonathan Huberdeau made a lovely dish to Nazem Kadri on a 2-on-1 a few minutes later, but it was Petr Mrazek’s turn to make a big stop top keep it scoreless.

Mrazek had 27 saves on the night.

Markstrom had another 10-beller near the midway point of the frame after Lukas Reichel split a pair of Calgary defenders but was stoned by the Calgary ‘tender who got his paddle on a five-hole attempt.

With timing winding down in the last minute of the first, Chris Tanev cut through the zone, got the puck and froze Mrazek high in the paint, cutting back but denied on his attempt to tuck it into the yawning cage by the stick of Chicago blueliner Kevin Korchinski.

Katchouk got another breakaway early in the second but fired it over the net, then not long after Philipp Kurashev was sent in alone getting a backhand offering on net that Markstrom denied with his glove.

Lindholm lit the lamp at 15:55, taking a pass from Kadri and feeding Yegor Sharangovich in the slot, his one-timer stopped but the rebound went right back to Lindholm who fired it into the cage.

Markstrom kept serving up gems, Isaak Phillips splitting the Flames D with 1:23 left in the frame but unable to beat No. 25.

The Lineup:

Trios and d-pairs to start the tilt:

Forwards

Jonathan Huberdeau - Nazem Kadri - Connor Zary

Yegor Sharangovich - Elias Lindholm - Matt Coronato

Andrew Mangiapane - Mikael Backlund - Blake Coleman

Walker Duehr - Cole Schwindt - Adam Klapka

Defence:

Noah Hanifin - Chris Tanev

Dennis Gilbert - Rasmus Andersson

Oliver Kylington - MacKenzie Weegar

Goaltender:

Jacob Markstrom - starter

Dan Vladar

They Said It:

The Numbers Game:

Shots: CGY 31, CHI 32

Powerplay: CGY 1-2, CHI 0-2

Faceoffs: CGY 47.4%, CHI 52.7%

Blocked Shots: CGY 11, CHI 19

Hits: CGY 18, CHI 19

Takeaways: CGY 5, CHI 9

5-on-5 Scoring Chances: CGY 29, CHI 24

5-on-5 High-Danger Scoring Chances: CGY 10, CHI 13

Up Next:

The Flames don't return to action until Feb. 6 when they face the Bruins in Boston to start a four-game road swing. They return to the Scotiabank Saddledome to host the Sharks on Feb. 15. Click for tickets