Lindholm, Tkachuk each has goal, assist for Flames in win against Canucks

CALGARY -- Elias Lindholm and Matthew Tkachuk each had a goal and an assist for the Calgary Flames in a 4-1 win against the Vancouver Canucks at Scotiabank Saddledome on Thursday.

Rasmus Andersson and Andrew Mangiapane scored, Johnny Gaudreau had two assists, and Jacob Markstrom made 24 saves in his 14th straight start for the Flames (24-26-3), who have three games remaining against the Canucks to close the season.
"Obviously we want to win the last three games, so that's how we approach it," Andersson said.
Matthew Highmore scored, and Thatcher Demko made 24 saves for the Canucks (21-28-3), who are 2-9-0 in the past 11 games and have four games remaining.
"I'm encouraged by our group," Vancouver defenseman Tyler Myers said. "Obviously we're going through a tough stretch right now. We don't want to make any excuses, but we're battling hard. I love the way we're still battling even though we're out of it."
Calgary is fifth and Vancouver is seventh in the seven-team Scotia North Division. Neither team qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"We're certainly not tweaking things in the system now," Flames coach Darryl Sutter said. "I'm going to put some other guys in the lineup and give them an opportunity and put them in back-to-back games and make sure they play the right way and go from there."
Highmore deflected Travis Hamonic's point shot by Markstrom 1:02 into the first period to put Vancouver up 1-0. The goal was Highmore's first of the season, and first in 45 games dating to Feb. 25, 2020, when he was with the Chicago Blackhawks.
"I just tried to get a stick on it," Highmore said. "Honestly, I didn't know it went in until I heard somebody scream. Just right place, right time. It was nice, just trying to play my game and help my linemates out."

Andersson one-timed Gaudreau's pass from below the goal line through Demko's legs to tie it 1-1 at 3:36.
"You want to play well every game and that's what I'm going to try to do," Andersson said. "Keep moving my feet, make plays, jump in the rush, shoot when I have an opportunity to shoot. You obviously want to play well every game, so that's what I'm going to try to do."

Mangiapane put Calgary up 2-1 at 5:17 when he tipped Nikita Nesterov's shot from the point by Demko's blocker.
Lindholm shot over Demko's glove on a breakaway to increase the lead to 3-1 at 15:33 of the third period.
"I just try to take it game by game and play as good as I can these last three, but it's obviously nice to score some goals," Lindholm said.
Tkachuk scored on a power play at 16:37 for the 4-1 final.
"It's obviously a different game now when both teams are out of the playoffs. That is what it is," Markstrom said. "Still, we want to build something here and get an identity and play the way we want to play."
NOTES:Markstrom is 8-6-0 in his 14 straight starts. … Flames forward Josh Leivo had one shot on goal in 12:45 after missing seven games while in NHL COVID-19 protocol. … Gaudreau has scored 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in his past 13 games. … Tkachuk has scored five points (two goals, three assists) in the past two games. … The Canucks are 0-for-19 on the power play in the past eight games.