Flames rebound with impressive 5-2 win over Kraken

SEATTLE — SEATTLE (AP) — Tyler Toffoli and the Calgary Flames rebounded from one of their ugliest losses of the season to pick up two vital Pacific Division points before heading into the All-Star break.

Toffoli, Elias Lindholm and Blake Coleman each had a goal and two assists as the Flames defeated the Seattle Kraken 5-2 on Friday night.

Calgary made an impressive recovery after being surprisingly routed at home in a 5-1 setback against low Chicago a day earlier. The Flames led the Kraken in Seattle for the second straight season, clinching two of three in the season series and going into their break on a high note.

“We talked about it in the last two games,” said Toffoli. “Obviously we neglected the Chicago game, but overall it was obviously a really important game tonight and we did a really good job.”

Lindholm deflected a pass from Toffoli at 7:16 of the first period to beat Calgary with his 15th goal, even after Seattle took an early lead.

Toffoli’s 18th goal at 13:28 gave Calgary a 2-1 lead and Nikita Zadorov scored with 4.5 seconds left in the first period to give the Flames a 3-1 lead.

Noah Hanifin scored his fourth goal of the season with 8:20 in the third period after Seattle drew 3-2, and Coleman added an empty goal with 1:20 left.

Dan Vladar made 29 saves and won his fifth straight start. Calgary is 10-0-3 in Vladar’s last 13 appearances and ties a club record for longest points streak by a goaltender, joining Mike Vernon (1988-89) and Brian Elliott (2016-17).

Recently called up by the AHL, John Hayden gave Seattle a 1-0 lead by deflecting Will Borgen’s shot from a point early in the first period. But the Kraken seemed a step slow all night, failing to capitalize on numerous opportunities with an additional attacker. Seattle was the worst season 0 for 6 on the power play.

“I’m kind of comfortable in situations like that because I know I’m going to get some action. I didn’t get much in the first 40 minutes, so I was kind of looking forward to it,” Vladar said of Seattle’s power plays.

Seattle seemed to draw in to 3-2 with 11:01 on Alex Wennberg’s powerplay goal, but Calgary challenged the keeper’s interference and the goal was knocked over. The Kraken finally scored that goal when Eeli Tolvanen scored on a rebound with 9:24 to go, but Hanifin responded 64 seconds later.

Martin Jones made 33 saves, but the Kraken lost for the second time in three games and missed an opportunity to advance to sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division.

Seattle coach Dave Hakstol said, “We weren’t very good.”

“Our group wasn’t good, especially in the middle of the game we didn’t have any energy,” said Hakstol. “And from top to bottom. We all are.”

Seattle also sees injuries affecting its lineup. Hayden was in the lineup because rookie All-Star center Matty Beniers was out after taking a big hit from Vancouver’s Tyler Myers in Wednesday’s win against the Canucks. Benier’s injury was not specified, but he has already been ruled out for Saturday’s game against Columbus and his status for next weekend’s All-Star game is uncertain.

Calgary placed D Chris Tanev on injured reserve Friday and activated IR’s F Brett Ritchie. Tanev was injured against Columbus last Monday and was injured in Thursday’s loss to Chicago. In Tanev’s absence, MacKenzie Weegar paired with Nikita Zadorov against the Blackhawks and again against Seattle. Ritchie was scratched. … Seattle placed D Justin Schultz on IR and recalled F Max McCormick from the AHL’s Coachella Valley. Schultz had missed three games before being placed on IR.

Flames: Calgary is free until February 6 when it plays at the New York Rangers.

Kraken: host Columbus on Saturday.