Chiarot scores twice including OT winner to lift Canadiens past Flames

Ben Chiarot scored the overtime winner for the Montreal Canadiens in a 5-4 win over the host Calgary Flames on Thursday.

The Canadiens foiled the Flames in their bid to set a franchise record of 12 consecutive home wins at the Saddledome.

Chiarot scored his second of the game at 1:03 of OT.

Mike Hoffman had a goal and two assists for Montreal (14-34-7) at the bottom of the Atlantic Division.

Nick Suzuki had a goal and an assist and defenceman Jeff Petry also scored for the Canadiens.

Andrew Hammond made 30 saves for the win.

The Canadiens improved to 6-4 since head coach Martin St. Louis replaced Dominique Ducharme on Feb. 9.

Andrew Mangiapane had goal and two assists for Calgary (32-14-7) atop the Pacific Division.

Blake Coleman, Johnny Gaudreau and Elias Lindholm also scored for the Flames, whose 11 straight home wins equalled a record established during the 2015-16 season.

Jacob Markstrom had 30 saves in the loss in his 18th start in Calgary's last 19 games

Alberta's lifting of COVID-19 restrictions on Tuesday meant no capacity limits or mask requirements Thursday at the Saddledome.

Game attendance had been capped at 50 per cent since Dec. 21. Masks were mandatory from the start of the season.

The Flames had averaged 12,421 in a building that holds 19,278 over their first 23 home games.

Thursday's attendance of 16,288 was the second-highest of this season behind 17,036 at a Nov. 26 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.

Ukraine and its struggle against invader Russia was acknowledged before the game, however, with Ukrainian colours flooding the ice during O Canada.

The visitors scored late in the second and twice in the third to lead 4-3 with 2:45 remaining in regulation.

But the Flames then swarmed the net with Markstrom pulled