Dan Vladar recorded his second shutout of the season, leading the Calgary Flames to a 3-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, ending a four-game losing streak.
The game had special meaning as the Flames honored the late Johnny Gaudreau, who spent nine years with the team before moving to Columbus in 2023. Gaudreau and his brother Matthew tragically passed away on August 29 in a bike accident.
Vladar wore a custom mask featuring images of both brothers and made 16 saves to secure his fourth career shutout. Rasmus Andersson, Kevin Bahl, and Yegor Sharangovich scored the goals for Calgary, with Mikael Backlund adding two assists.
Elvis Merzlikins stopped 19 shots for the Blue Jackets, who lost in regulation for the first time in seven games (5-1-1).
Andersson opened the scoring with a power-play goal midway through the second period, assisted by Backlund. This goal was particularly emotional for Andersson, who was close friends with Gaudreau. He said, “That was the most emotional goal I’ve ever scored.” The Flames have now scored on the power play in seven of their last eight games.
Bahl extended the lead with a power-play goal of his own, his first of the season, with just over two minutes remaining in regulation. Sharangovich sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the final 20 seconds.
Columbus had a tough time getting shots on goal, registering their first of the second period at the 17:51 mark and going nearly 24 minutes without a shot. The Blue Jackets thought they had scored early when Zach Werenski found the net, but the goal was overturned after a successful offside challenge by the Flames.
Calgary also had a goal called back in the third period, as a Backlund deflection was waved off due to offside.
