NHL: Jonathan Huberdeau finally scores, Flames slow Canucks down

Jonathan Huberdeau ended an 11-game scoreless drought and had an assist as the Calgary Flames beat the powerful Vancouver Canucks 5-2 on Thursday.

Huberdeau, who had not scored since October 19, made it 4-1 with his third goal of the season in the third period.

The Canucks have won seven of their previous eight games. They scored the first goal of the match, but responded with four straight goals.

Elias Lindholm scored and had two assists and Blake Coleman had two assists for the Flames, who won their second straight game.

Mackenzie Weegar, Dillon Dobe and Noah Hanifin also scored for Calgary.

Elias Pettersson, JT Miller and Quinn Hughes, tied for the NHL scoring lead, added a point to their tally on the first goal of the game, Pettersson’s eighth goal of the season. The Canucks’ three players now have 27 points each after 17 games.

Weegar tied the game for Calgary before halftime, Dube broke the deadlock midway through the second and Hanifin doubled the Flames’ lead with 36 seconds on the clock in the second.

Nils Hoglander scored midway through the third period for the Canucks and Lindholm completed the scoring into an empty net for the Flames.

Canucks defenseman Filip Hronek was shut out, ending his 11-point streak.

As the Canucks were playing a second game in as many nights, Casey DeSmith started. Despite his 34 saves, he suffered his first setback in regular time. He is 4-1-1 this season.