Hockey·Recap

Sean Monahan's 1st NHL hat trick helps Flames down Flyers

Sean Monahan had the first hat trick of his NHL career and Michael Frolik scored 1:18 into overtime to give the Calgary Flames a 5-4 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.

Michael Frolik scores winner 1:18 into OT for Calgary

Calgary Flames centre Sean Monahan scored his first career hat trick against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. (Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)

Sean Monahan, Johnny Gaudreau and the rest of the Calgary Flames had something to prove after getting embarrassed in Detroit on Wednesday night.

Monahan recorded the first hat trick of his NHL career, Gaudreau picked up a goal and two assists to extend his points streak to a career-high nine games, and Michael Frolik scored 1:18 into overtime to provide the margin of victory in Calgary's 5-4 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.

The Flames (11-8-0), who were routed 8-2 in Detroit, won for the sixth time in eight games.

Game Wrap: Calgary Flames burn Philadelphia Flyers in OT

7 years ago
Duration 1:32
Michael Frolik scored the game-winner in overtime, while Sean Monahan scored his first career hat trick in Calgary's 5-4 win over Philadelphia

"I think the last game in Detroit was a little eye-opening," Gaudreau said. "It's exciting to see us play this way because I don't really think we've seen our best hockey yet."

Goaltender Mike Smith, who returned from an upper body injury, turned aside 35 of 39 shots to earn his 10th win.

Penalty trouble

Defencemen Brandon Manning and Ivan Provorov and forwards Sean Couturier and Nolan Patrick scored for the Flyers (8-8-4), who lost for the fourth straight time.

Brian Elliott, who appeared in 49 games for the Flames last season, recorded 27 saves in the loss for the Flyers, who allowed three power-play goals to Monahan in the second period.

"Sometimes it's the penalties that you take that bite you a little bit," Elliott said. "There were little breakdowns and they're a skilled team and made us pay. We took too many penalties in the second period."

The Flames, who rank last in the NHL on the penalty kill, held the Flyers to just one shot on a power play in the final 2 minutes of regulation.

"We were aggressive," Flames coach Glen Gulutzan said. "You're dealing with the best players in the league and when you give them time and space you're in trouble. Last year we were in the same boat. We were 30th [in the NHL] after 20 games and we ended up [12th] in the league and killed at a high rate."

The two teams combined for eight goals on 54 shots through the opening 40 minutes.

Manning and Provorov each scored their third goals of the season and Couturier netted his team-high 12th to give the Flyers a 3-1 lead through one period.

Monahan and the Flames' power play took over the game in the second period.

'I wasn't a good team player'

The 23-year-old centre redirected a shot by Kris Versteeg to draw the Flames within 3-2 at the 6:07 mark and tied the score less than 4 minutes later by depositing a Gaudreau rebound past his former teammate.

The Flyers regained the lead on Patrick's second goal of the season with 5:58 remaining in the period, but an elbowing penalty to Flyers defenceman Shayne Gostisbehere led to the Flames' third power play of the period. Monahan converted, tying the score again on a shot from the slot with 5:04 remaining for his first career three-goal game.

"I wasn't a good team player on that play," Gostisbehere said. "In the heat of the moment I let my teammates down. I was upset."

Gaudreau assisted on two of Monahan's three goals and also scored on a first-period breakaway off a long stretch pass from right winger Michael Ferland.

"He's a guy always looking for offence and cutting to the middle," Elliott said of Gaudreau. "He got us on one tonight."