Music: {allcanada} Flames' Ortio makes 36 saves, shuts out Canucks

Saturday, January 10, 2015

{allcanada} Flames' Ortio makes 36 saves, shuts out Canucks

VANCOUVER -- The Calgary Flames didn't need many shots to end a long slump against the Vancouver Canucks.

Flames forward Mikael Backlund scored on the first shot and goalie Joni Ortio made 36 saves in his first NHL start of the season to lead Calgary to a 1-0 win against the Canucks at Rogers Arena on Saturday night.

It was the first NHL shutout for Ortio, who played nine games last season, and the first win for the Flames in 10 games against the Canucks dating to March 2013. It was their first win in Vancouver since December 2011.

The win ended a three-game losing streak for Calgary (22-18-3) and moved them two points behind the Canucks in the Pacific Division.

Eddie Lack made 22 saves in a surprise start for the Canucks (23-14-3), who have lost two straight since a 5-1-1 streak.

The Flames were coming off a 6-5 loss against the Florida Panthers of Friday and got outshot 15-6 in the first period by the Canucks. But Calgary converted on a 2-on-1 chance 5:38 in.

Flames rookie left wing Johnny Gaudreau, who was named to participate in the 2015 Honda NHL All-Star Skills Competition earlier in the day, led the rush into the Canucks end before passing to Vancouver native David Jones to create an odd-man situation down low. Jones' pass across the top of the crease was chipped in off Lack by Backlund driving hard to the backdoor.

It was the third goal and fifth point for Backlund in three games since returning from abdominal surgery that kept him out 29 games.

Despite being badly outshot, the Flames almost made it 2-0 when center Sean Monahan hit the short side post from the left faceoff circle with 3:33 left in the first period, but got a break when Canucks counterpart hit the crossbar from similar range one minute later.

Ortio was good in his first NHL start since March 21, getting his left pad on forward Alexandre Burrows shot on a loose puck atop the crease 2:50 into the first period and forward Brad Richardson in close seven minutes later.

Ortio, who arrived from Adirondack of the American Hockey League Friday afternoon after backup Karri Ramo sustained an upper body injury on Wednesday, also got lucky.

Daniel Sedin hit the post on a shorthanded 2-on-1 slap shot early in the second period, and Jannik Hansen hit the crossbar on a one-timer from between the hash marks a couple of minutes later.

Vancouver almost tied the game with 4:29 left in the second period, but the goal was waved off because Henrik Sedin knocked it in with a high stick. Ortio made two blocker saves on Daniel Sedin from point blank range 30 seconds part, but the rebound on the second shot bounced high over his head. Henrik Sedin was behind the net, and he tipped it in over Ortio's head but before it came down below the crossbar.

Lack, who got his first start in three weeks on Tuesday, got another Saturday because goalie Ryan Miller was sick.

After sliding across to get a piece of the first shot which ended up past him, Lack stopped the next 22 shots, including a good look for Gaudreau in the slot off a rush and a power play blast by defenseman Mark Giordano through traffic early in the third period.

Lack also stopped center Matt Stajan with his blocker on a one-timer from 15 feet after a turnover midway through the third period, but for the second time in Lack's past three starts the Canucks didn't score.

Vancouver forward Derek Dorsett got wide around defenseman Dennis Wideman with 6:45 left but couldn't beat Ortio in tight.

Calgary was outshot 36-23, and had the game's only two power-play opportunities.