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Sam Bennett scores twice, Flames beat Red Wings

Posted at 12:29 AM, Jan 19, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-19 10:25:48-05

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) -- Sam Bennett scored twice, including the go-ahead goal late in the third period, to lead the Calgary Flames to a 6-4 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night.

Bennett was sent in on a breakaway by Derek Ryan and fired a quick shot inside the post on Jimmy Howard, before toppling over the Red Wings goaltender at 16:06 of the third.

Sean Monahan, James Neal, Mark Giordano and TJ Brodie -- into an empty net -- also scored for Calgary. The Pacific Division-leading Flames extended their points streak to seven games (6-0-1).

Calgary was 3 for 3 with the man advantage, with every goal coming from the second power-play unit, which hadn't produced a goal since Dec. 2.

Dylan Larkin scored twice, and Anthony Mantha and Mike Green also had goals for Detroit, which began a three-game road trip.

Relegated to backup duties lately, Mike Smith made 31 saves for Calgary to improve to 14-9-1. He has won nine of his last 11 decisions. Making his third straight start, Jimmy Howard had 30 stops for Detroit.

Detroit went ahead 4-3 at 8:35 of the third when Gustav Nyquist got behind the Flames defense and, after mishandling the puck, passed it to Larkin, who scored his 20th.

Giordano tied it with 5:57 left, the first of three straight goals for Calgary -- followed by Bennett's go-ahead score and Brodie's empty-netter.

NOTES: The Flames' power play is 8 for 14 in the last six games. ... Calgary's Johnny Gaudreau had an assist to extend his points streak to 10 games to tie a career high. ... Travis Hamonic (family illness) returned to the Flames' lineup after missing two games.

UP NEXT

Red Wings: at Vancouver on Sunday night.

Flames: at Edmonton on Sunday night.