CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — The Blackhawks will finally play on their home ice after a four-game Western Conference road trip to open the 2024-25 season.
It was a trip with mixed results.
Chicago went 1-2-1 on the road trip after falling, 3-1, in Calgary to the still unbeaten Flames late Tuesday night to conclude the trip. Matt Coronato scored two goals and Dustin Wolf made 31 saves for the Flames, who improved to 4-0.
The Blackhawks host the San Jose Sharks at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the United Center opener, which kicks off a four-game homestand.
Captain Nick Foligno scored Chicago’s lone goal on Tuesday, while Petr Mrazek stopped 23 shots in net.
Andrei Kuzmenko, with his first of the season on the power play, also scored for Calgary, which has matched the best start in franchise history. The Flames also opened with four consecutive wins in the 2009-10 and 1993-94 seasons.
Coronato’s second goal was an empty netter with 39 seconds to play.
Takeaways
Blackhawks: The visitors had several chances to break a 1-1 tie as they outshot the hosts, 7-1, to begin the second period, but they couldn’t solve Wolf. He made a string of early stops, including one on Joey Anderson, who was thwarted on a short-handed breakaway, and a pad stop of Teuvo Teravainen’s one-timer.
Flames: The fourth line continues to be a surprise source of offense. After Justin Kirkland, filling in for Kevin Rooney (upper body), scored his first NHL goal on Saturday, the 28-year-old picked up his first NHL assist on Coronato’s first goal. Ryan Lomberg is manning the left side.
Key moment
With Connor Bedard in the penalty box for slashing after catching Wolf under his mask with the tip of his stick at 11:56 of the second, the Flames took the lead for good with Kuzmenko neatly deflecting Jonathan Huberdeau’s point shot out of the air. The goal came at 6-on-4 with a delayed penalty upcoming on Foligno.
Key stat
With an assist on Kuzmenko’s goal, Connor Zary is up to five points (2 goals, 3 assists) and is the only Calgary player with a point in all four games. With an assist, Rasmus Andersson has six points (2 goals, 4 assists) to lead all NHL defensemen.
Up next
Blackhawks: Host the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night.
Flames: Visit the Seattle Kraken on Saturday.