Chicago Blackhawks goalie Scott Darling (No 33) makes a save as Calgary Flames center Sean Monahan (No 23) tries to score during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 2-1. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports

By Chris Hine/Chicago Tribune


Scott Darling did about all he could Friday night, especially in the third period. He made save after save, but the Chicago Blackhawks could not find any firepower of their own to overcome the Calgary Flames in a 2-1 overtime loss.
Johnny Gaudreau put an end to Darling’s magical night with a goal 1 minute, 38 seconds into overtime. Credit Darling with getting the Hawks out of Calgary with a point when the offense failed to generate anything in a lacklustre third period.
Meanwhile, Darling was anything but in making 14 saves in the period, 35 for the game, including a couple of key saves early in the overtime before Boudreau scored.
“He was a big reason why we got the one point --the biggest reason we got the one point,” defenseman Duncan Keith said.
It was the second straight game the Hawks allowed a team that is struggling in the standings to hang around.
It was also a little concerning for the Hawks that they managed just one goal against the team that has allowed the most goals in the league at this point in the season. The Hawks defeated the Oilers on Wednesday 4-3 in overtime.
“I don’t think we played our best game,” Keith said. “Give them credit they came out hard and did a lot to win. We can be better.”
Luckily for the Hawks, they get a chance to rectify that Saturday night against the Canucks. “You want to get two points but at the end of the day we battled hard and got one and we’ll go from there,” Darling said. Except Darling likely won’t get to pick up where he left off. Corey Crawford is due back in goal Saturday.
Devils blitzed by Oilers 5-1
Edmonton: So far, the Devils’ road trip to Western Canada is serving as a reminder that the margin of error is very small for this team. When they are off their game just a little, it’s difficult for them to win. When they are as undisciplined as they were Friday night, it’s even harder.
The Devils dropped to 0-2-0 on this trip with a 5-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers in what is their last scheduled visit to Rexall Place. The Oilers plan to move into their new downtown arena next season.
The Devils lost consecutive games for the first time since they started the season 0-3-1. They have mostly themselves to blame because of their sloppy play and repeated penalties.
The Devils put the Oilers on the power play six times. They killed off the first four before the Oilers finally cashed in on their fifth chance with Jordin Eberle jamming the puck in under goaltender Keith Kinkaid at the left edge of the crease to make it 3-1 3:23 into the third period.
Mark Letestu capitalised on a bad defensive zone giveaway by Mike Cammalleri to make it 4-1 with a shot that went in off Kinkaid’s glove with 6:42 remaining. Taylor Hall added an empty-net goal with 2:31 left to complete the scoring.
It also didn’t help that the Devils managed only 18 shots on goal on Oilers goalie Anders Nilsson, including just two in the third period.