Samsonov stops 31 shots as Golden Knights earn sixth straight win, 3-0 over the Flames

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Brett Howden scored his 15th goal of the season and Ilya Samsonov stopped 31 shots as the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Calgary Flames 3-0 on Sunday night.

Howden redirected defenseman Alex Pietrangelo’s shot from the top of the slot late in the second period and is now tied with Ivan Barbashev for the team lead in goals. Howden has scored in four of the last five games.

Victor Olofsson and Tanner Pearson also scored for the Golden Knights, who have shut out Calgary twice this season, beating them 5-0 on Oct. 28. Pearson also assisted on Howden’s goal and now has 300 points in his career.

Dan Vladar made 34 saves for Calgary.

The Golden Knights have now won six straight, the longest active win streak in the NHL, while improving to 25-8-3 on the year. They own a 13-2-1 record against Pacific Division opponents.

Calgary (17-12-7) dropped to 4-4-1 against Pacific Division teams.

Calgary: The Flames played in their fourth back-to-back set following Saturday’s 3-1 win in San Jose. Calgary is 3-1-0 in game one of a back-to-back scenario and dropped to 1-3-0 in game two of back-to-backs.

Vegas: The Golden Knights scored twice in the third period and now boast a league-best plus-30 goal differential in the third period.

Spanning the end of the first period and into the second period, the Golden Knights were successful in staving off a Calgary power play, which included a 5-on-3 for roughly a minute after Howden was given a double-minor for a high stick to Jonathan Huberdeau’s head. Samsonov stopped five shots during the entire sequence.

200 — Jack Eichel played in his 200th game as a Golden Knight, while Bruce Cassidy coached his 200th game with Vegas.

The Flames host Vancouver on Tuesday. Vegas will host Montreal on Tuesday.

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Calgary Flames center Connor Zary and Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague vie for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) shoots against Calgary Flames defenseman Kevin Bahl (7) and goaltender Dan Vladar (80) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, left, reacts after scoring against the Calgary Flames during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Victor Olofsson (95) uses his skate to shield the puck from Calgary Flames center Blake Coleman (20) and defenseman Kevin Bahl (7) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague (14) and Calgary Flames center Jonathan Huberdeau (10) vie for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Calgary Flames goaltender Dan Vladar (80) blocks a shot by Vegas Golden Knights right wing Cole Schwindt (22) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Calgary Flames center Jonathan Huberdeau (10) shoots against Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Ilya Samsonov (35) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Calgary Flames center Connor Zary (47) shots against Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague (14) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) shoots against Calgary Flames goaltender Dan Vladar (80) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Calgary Flames left wing Ryan Lomberg, center, collides with Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Ilya Samsonov during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Las Vegas. Lomberg was called for interference. (AP Photo/David Becker)

PODGORICA, Montenegro (AP) — A gunman who fatally shot at least 12 people, including two children, in Montenegro has killed himself while surrounded by police, officials said Thursday.

At least four others were wounded in the shooting rampage in the western town of Cetinje on Wednesday that followed a bar brawl, officials said.

The shooter, identified as 45-year-old Aco Martinović, killed the owner of the bar, the bar owner's children and his own family members, Interior Minister Danilo Šaranović said.

The attacker, who was fled after the rampage, was later located and surrounded by police. He died after shooting himself in the head, Šaranović said.

Police had dispatched a special unit to search for the attacker in the town, which is located about 30 kilometers (18 miles) northwest of the capital, Podgorica. All the roads in and out of the city have been blocked as police swarmed the streets.

Šaranović said that Martinović had died while being taken to a hospital in the capital and succumbed from the “severity of his injuries.”

The government has declared three days of national mourning starting on Thursday, with Prime Minister Milojko Spajić describing the shooting as a “terrible tragedy.”

“The level of rage and brutality shows that sometimes such people ... are even more dangerous than members of organized criminal gangs,” Šaranović said.

Martinović was at the bar throughout the day with other guests when the brawl erupted, Police Commissioner Lazar Šćepanović said. He said that Martinović then went home, brought back a weapon and opened fire at around 5:30 p.m.

“He killed four people” at the bar before heading out, and then continued shooting at three more locations, Šćepanović said.

He said that the suspect received a suspended sentence in 2005 for violent behavior and had appealed his latest conviction for illegal weapons possession. Montenegrin media have reported that he was known for erratic and violent behavior.

The small country of Montenegro, which has a population of around 620,000 people, is known for its gun culture and many people traditionally have weapons.

Wednesday’s shooting was the second shooting rampage over the past three years in Cetinje, Montenegro’s historic capital. An attacker killed 10 people, including two children, in August 2022 before he was shot and killed by a passerby in Cetinje.

President Jakov Milatović said that he was “shocked and stunned” by the tragedy.

“Instead of holiday joy ... we have been gripped by sadness over the loss of innocent lives,” Milatovic said in a post on X.

Police investigators work at the site of a shooting in Cetinje, 36 kilometers (22 miles) west of Podogrica, Montenegro, Wednesday, Jan 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Risto Bozovic)

Police investigators work at the site of a shooting in Cetinje, 36 kilometers (22 miles) west of Podogrica, Montenegro, Wednesday, Jan 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Risto Bozovic)