Czarnik's late goal lifts Flames past Senators for fifth straight win

OTTAWA -- Austin Czarnik scored with 41 seconds remaining in the third period, and the Calgary Flames won their fifth straight game, 2-1 against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on Sunday.

"I'm starting to feel really good," said Czarnik, who returned to the Flames lineup on Feb. 16 after being a healthy scratch for nine straight games. "I was out for a month and that was tough to handle, but ever since then I've just been trying to shoot the puck, and right now they're going in."
Czarnik scored with a backhand shot from the slot; it was his fourth goal in the past five games.
WATCH: [All Flames vs. Senators highlights | Tkachuk brothers, family share memorable night]
"We're really happy for him," Flames forward Mikael Backlund said. "He's been sitting out a lot of games lately. Since he's come back, he's been playing really well for us. Not just scoring, just the play without the puck, very detailed with his game, and just happy to see him get rewarded."
Backlund also scored, and David Rittich made 22 saves for Calgary (39-16-7), which leads the San Jose Sharks by three points for first place in the Pacific Division and Western Conference.
"I think, defensively, we've dialed it in a little bit here," Czarnik said. "For us to be able to dial it in, you need to be able to win close games like that, low scoring games. For us to be able to do that, it's a big step in our game."

Brady Tkachuk scored, and Craig Anderson made 33 saves for Ottawa (22-35-5), which has lost four in a row.
"I thought we were the better team for most of that game, or some of that game," Tkachuk said. "Old, young, we're here for a reason and we're all good enough to be at this level, so I thought we played well and it's just the beginning. We're going to get better every day."
The Flames took a 1-0 lead at 4:07 of the first period when Backlund scored with a wrist shot from the slot.
Tkachuk finished a backhand deke under Rittich's pad to tie it 1-1 at 15:38 of the second period. It was the Senators' first goal in 160:55.
"I'm happy for my brother. What a sick goal that was," said Calgary forward Matthew Tkachuk, who played against his brother for the first time in the NHL. "He made it hard on us. They made it hard on us tonight, and it took us 59 minutes to get that win, but it's a big win and continues this winning streak we've got here."

They said it

"All [my family was] talking about was how much fun they had this weekend. So thankful to have family and friends with that support that are willing to come to Ottawa. It's not close for really anybody, whether you're in St. Louis, Winnipeg, Boston, wherever you are … I mean, it's not the easiest trip. To get everyone up for this weekend, they had a great time." -- Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk on the 38 friends and family members in attendance
"It's a good opportunity for me here. A young team, rebuilding mode, I think I just fit right in. I spoke to [Senators general manager Pierre Dorion] last night and I think the way that we play, with a lot of speed and we try to make some plays, I think it fits my game perfectly." -- Senators forward Anthony Duclair, who played his first game with Ottawa after being acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday

Need to know

Each team was 0-for-3 on the power play. … The Flames have outscored opponents 18-10 during their five-game winning streak. … Senators forwards Mark Stone and Mikkel Boedker, and defenseman Cody Ceci were scratched for precautionary reasons with the NHL Trade Deadline on Monday at 3 p.m. ET. … Duclair had one shot on goal in 15:57 in his Ottawa debut. … The Senators are 3-11-0 in their past 14 games.

What's next

Flames: At the New York Islanders on Tuesday (Nassau Coliseum; 7 p.m. ET; MSG+, SNW, NHL.TV)
Senators: At the Washington Capitals on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSWA, RDS2, TSN5, NHL.TV)