Huberdeau scores first goal with Flames in win over Penguins

CALGARY– Jonathan Huberdeau scored his first goal with the Calgary Flames in Tuesday’s 4-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Nazem Kadri had two goals and one assist, and Jacob Markstrom made 32 saves for the Flames (5-1-0), who have won three of four to open an eight-game home season.

“We want to get better,” said Huberdeau. “But I think if we play a lot of games like that we will be in a good position. We obviously have to work on some things, but overall this is the start we want. Every game takes a lead and after that if we can play well defensively then things will go well for us.”

Yevgeny Malkin scored, and Casey DeSmith made 32 saves for the Penguins (4-2-1), who have lost twice in a row, including 6-3 to the Edmonton Oilers on Monday.

“If we look at our season so far, we’ve done pretty well there,” said the Pittsburgh forward Jeff Carter said. “For the most part we prevailed offensively. Sometimes when that happens early on, you think it’s all going to be like this. I think maybe we got a bit caught up here, we win by sticking to our game plan, sticking to our details and we just haven’t had that the last few nights.”

Video: PIT@CGY: Huberdeau extends lead with PPG

Kadri gave Calgary a 1-0 lead at 14-11 of the first period Andreas Mangiapane from below the goal line and extended to 2-0 at 17:41 when he shot over DeSmith’s blocker in a 2-on-1.

“You always want to start strong,” Kadri said. “If you score the first goal, I think your percentages go up automatically when you score the first goal. We always try to get off to a good start and establish home ice. We want that to be a difficult place to come into the game come and score a win.”

Kadri, who signed a seven-year, $49 million ($7 million average annual value) deal with Calgary on Aug. 18, has nine points (four goals, five assists) in a six-game scoring streak early in the season .

“It was certainly good,” said Kadri. “I fitted in well. Thanks to the guys, they made me feel welcome and to the staff and everyone in the city of Calgary. It’s always nice to get wins.”

Video: PIT@CGY: Kadri buries the 2nd goal in a 2v1 break

Huberdeau extended the lead to 3-0 at 3:00 of the second period with a wrist shot from the top of the left faceoff circle. The forward, who also has four assists this season, was acquired at defense by the Florida Panthers MacKenzie Weegar to the Matthew Tkachuk on July 22nd.

“It obviously feels good to get the first one out of the way,” said Huberdeau.

“I got it on top and I had a really nice screen in front of it, so all I had to do was pick that corner and it worked. I just have to shoot a little more and it will go in.”

Video: PIT@CGY: Stone scores in the 2nd period

Malkin cut it 4:32 to 3-1 when he scored on Carter’s rebound on a power play, but Michael Stone scored with a slap shot at 11:20 to make it 4:1.

Calgary defeated Pittsburgh 20-6 in the first, then were outplayed 21-4 in the second.

“It’s a small fight to take away from this game,” Penguins defended Brian Dumoline said in relation to the change in dynamics in the second period. “I’m a positive guy and we have to take some positive things with us now and this is definitely one of them. Going forward now we have two important games left for this road trip and we still have a winning record here.” So that’s our focus.”

REMARKS: Kadri’s six-game points streak early in his tenure with the Flames is behind Mel Bridgman (eight games 1981-82), Phil Housley (seven games 1994-95) and Sergei Makarov (seven games 1989-90). … Pittsburgh forward Sam Poulin, the 2019 NHL draft pick, had an assist, two shots on goal and a blocked shot in 12:17 Ice Age in his NHL debut. … penguins forward Jason Sugar did not play and is day in and day out with an undisclosed injury sustained in Edmonton in the third period… Calgary defender Rasmus Andersson has five assists in a four-game assist streak. … The Flames had five wins in their sixth game, the fewest in franchise history. The previous mark was seven, which has been reached seven times, most recently last season.