Flames edge Panthers 6-2, spoil Tkachuk’s return to Calgary

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press

CALGARY — Dillon Dube scored a shorthanded goal and added two assists to lead the Calgary Flames to a 6-2 victory over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night in Calgary.

Rasmus Andersson, Jonathan Huberdeau, Tyler Toffoli and Andrew Mangiapane all had a goal and an assist for the Flames (10-9-3), who are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games.

Brett Ritchie scored the other goal for the winners and goaltender Dan Vladar saved 30 pucks.

For the Panthers (10-9-4), Nick Cousins ​​and Sam Reinhart were the scorers. Sergei Bobrovsky faced 23 shots and allowed all six goals for the Flames.

Tuesday’s game marked Matthew Tkachuk’s return to the Saddledome after the trade that sent him to the Panthers over the summer. Tkachuk played for the Flames for his first six NHL seasons.

The 24-year-old Tkatchuk was a restricted free agent who told Flames officials he would not sign a long-term contract with the Alberta team.

On Tuesday night, he was booed every time he touched the puck, but the forward also received a partial standing ovation from the crowd during a tribute video dedicated to him early in the first period.

In return for Tkachuk, the Flames acquired Huberdeau, defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, prospect Cole Schwindt and a conditional draft pick.

After scoring three unanswered goals in the first period, the Flames led 4-2 after 40 minutes.

Toffoli made it 5-2 on one one-timer at 15:22 of the third period. Mangiapane scored the last goal of the match at 18:54.