Player of the Week | Brian Elliott
Brian Elliott started the week by helping the Calgary Flames tie a franchise-best 10 straight wins, and ended it off by matching another Flames’ record with his 11th straight win to tie Mike Vernon.
Brian Elliott started the week by helping the Calgary Flames tie a franchise-best 10 straight wins, and ended it off by matching another Flames’ record with his 11th straight win to tie Mike Vernon.
The native of Newmarket, Ontario went a perfect 3-0 in his starts over the week, posting a .926 save percentage and a 1.95 goals-against average during the Calgary Flames’ four-game homestand.
It all started with Monday's franchise-best ten straight wins as Elliott turned aside 32 shots in a 4-3 shootout win against the Pittsburgh Penguins in front of a home crowd at Scotiabank Saddledome — six of those saves came in overtime with a man down. Elliott shined in the shootout by turning away the always-dangerous trio of Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, and Phil Kessel.nd Elliott shined in the shootout by turning away the always-dangerous trio of Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, and Phil Kessel.
Elliott, who won nine of Calgary's 10 wins during the streak, did not play in Wednesday’s 5-2 loss against the Boston Bruins due to illness. Chad Johnson got his first start since Feb. 24 against his former club after getting a 4 a.m. text from goalie coach Jordan Sigalet to let him know he’d be getting the nod.
He was feeling better though, and back in net by Friday to earn the game’s second star with 24 saves in a 3-1 win over the Dallas Stars, earning his own 10th straight win.
On Sunday night, Elliott matched another Flames’ record by notching his 11th straight win to tie Mike Vernon, who accomplished the feat in 1989 from Jan. 17 to Feb.27, by turning away 19 shots in a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.
Elliott remained humble after the game, keeping his eye on the prize as the third place Flames sit one point behind the Anaheim Ducks for second in the Pacific Division with 86 points.
"I think any time you're mentioned in the same sentence as a guy like Mike Vernon it's an accomplishment," Elliott told NHL.com. "It's pretty cool to be able to have done that, but for right now it's the two points we got and they didn't."
For a complete listing of the 2016-17 NHLPA.com Players of the Week, click here.
