Bennett's pair leads Flames past Columbus
© Jamie Sabau
By
Craig Merz
NHL.com Independent Correspondent
Bobrovsky left the game with 8:30 remaining in the second period after allowing two goals on 13 shots. He was playing his second game since missing 17 with a groin injury sustained Dec. 8. Columbus coach John Tortorella did not get into the specifics of Bobrovsky's injury.
"There's no sense in me speculating and I don't have an update," Tortorella said.
Bobrovsky was replaced by backup Joonas Korpisalo, who made 12 saves in 25:30 of ice time. Columbus backup goalie Curtis McElhinney has been out with an ankle injury sustained in a 5-4 shootout win against the Washington Capitals on Jan. 2.
Flames center Sam Bennett scored twice, and Calgary (21-21-3) avoided a third straight loss.
Bennett's first goal 4:15 into the second period broke a 1-1 tie. His second goal with 5:32 remaining in the third period gave the Flames a two-goal lead after Johnny Gaudreau scored on a tough-angle shot that put Calgary ahead 3-2 at 1:28.
Bennett, a 19-year-old rookie who was the fourth pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, has 13 goals. He has eight goals in his past five games, including four against the Florida Panthers on Jan. 13.
"There's lot of confidence but it's also great that he's getting rewarded," Calgary coach Bob Hartley said. "Look the way Sammy goes to the net. He's hungry. He's relentless and suddenly the red light is going on."
Bennett credited forwards Mikael Backlund and Michael Frolik for his surge.
"My linemates were flying," he said. "That's huge when your linemates are going. I was getting a lot of chances, lot of looks."
Frolik scored his eighth goal of the season with eight seconds remaining in the first period. He took advantage of a turnover that Calgary defenseman Dougie Hamilton turned into a shot on goal.
Backlund and defenseman Mark Giordano each had two assists, and goalie Karri Ramo made 27 saves.
"This was a hard-fought game because we were pressuring like crazy," Hartley said. "They were pressuring like crazy. It was not fun to be a defenseman tonight on both sides. Both teams played hard but there wasn't much space."
Scott Hartnell and Brandon Dubinsky scored for Columbus (17-27-4).
"We didn't generate much offense. They didn't either. They ended up scoring," Tortorella said.
Hartnell, who returned from a one-game benching, scored his 16th goal of the season 3:37 into the second period off of a rebound after defenseman Seth Jones' shot went over the net, hit the glass and caromed to Hartnell. He tied Boone Jenner and Brandon Saad for the Blue Jackets lead.
Dubinsky scored his 10th goal of the season with 2:02 remaining in the second period. Defenseman Ryan Murray's shot from the blue line was stopped by Ramo, and Dubinsky was there to score off the rebound.
"They were stretching guys and getting behind us and making it tough for us to sustain a lot of pressure," Dubinsky said.
Columbus entered another third period tied but failed to take advantage of opportunities.
"I thought we did a good job in the second period battling back to tie it," Jenner said. "Going into that third period there were chances both ways. We just have to a better job of finishing those chances."
The third period belonged to Flames Bennett and 22-year-old Gaudreau, who scored his 20th goal.
"For their ages it's unbelievable for us what they're doing now," Frolik said. "They've got great futures."
