Lindholm reaches 40-goal mark to help Flames double up Canucks

Dillon Dube scored twice and Elias Lindholm notched his 40th goal to lead the Calgary Flames to a 6-3 win over Vancouver on Saturday night, reducing the visiting Canucks' playoff hopes to just a flicker.

Brett Ritchie, Nikita Zadorov and Johnny Gaudreau, into an empty net, also scored for Calgary (49-20-10). The Flames, 9-1-1 in their last 11, have already locked up first place in the Pacific Division.

Quinn Hughes, Conor Garland and Emilio Pettersson had the goals for Vancouver (38-30-11), which loses both games on its two-game road trip that started off in Minnesota.

With Jacob Markstrom getting the night off and not even in uniform, rookie Dan Vladar got the rare home start — just his third start at the Saddledome all season. He made 28 stops to improve to 12-5-2.

At the other end, Thatcher Demko had 25 stops. He falls to 33-22-7.

WATCH l Dube scores pair as Flames down Canucks:

After a scoreless and penalty-free first period, the Flames surged in front 2:44 into the second period with a power-play goal.

Lindholm, who was clipped by a high-stick from rookie Canucks forward William Lockwood to draw the penalty, whipped a perfect shot into the top corner after being set up by Johnny Gaudreau.

Lindholm's 40th goal comes one game after linemate Matthew Tkachuk reached that same number.

It's the first time Calgary has had multiple 40-goal scorers in a season since 1993-94 when Gary Roberts (41), Theo Fleury (40) and Robert Reichel (40) all accomplished that feat.

Robbed on three glorious chances on Thursday and thwarted on another dangerous chance in the first period on Saturday, Lindholm's look skyward when the red goal light lit up showed his relief.

With the Saddledome still buzzing, the Flames scored again 16 seconds