The Scotiabank Saddledome was rocking Wednesday night after the Calgary Flames defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 to snap a three-game skid.

The Hurricanes (23-21-8) missed a chance to pull within one point of a wild card spot with the loss, while the Flames (22-24-3) needed the win to avoid dropping further in the standings.

This was a game decided by special teams. Calgary’s effectiveness on the power play, combined with their ability to kill penalties, was unparalleled by Carolina, ultimately winning the Flames the game.

Calgary opened the scoring in the first period with a power-play goal from defenseman Dougie Hamilton, who was set up by a cross-ice pass from Sean Monahan.

The Canes found an immediate response when left winger Jeff Skinner raced down the left side of the ice and fired a cross right to the stick of forward Elias Lindholm, who wristed a rocket that sliced into the back of the net.

If a game was ever decided by one period, this was it. In the first 10 minutes of the second period, the Canes were given two power-play opportunities but failed to convert on either one. A goal would have been crucial and would have allowed Carolina to take its first lead of the game.

The Flames only needed to draw one penalty in the second to score as defenseman Mark Giordano scored on the ensuing power play.

Things got even worse for the Hurricanes just 38 seconds later when the puck was deflected off goalkeeper Eddie Lack straight to the stick of left winger Johnny Gaudreau, who had the simple task of tapping it into an open net.

The Hurricanes looked sluggish for the remainder of the second period but were let off with six seconds to play when they were awarded yet another penalty.

Carolina opened the third period with a power-play opportunity but, yet, again failed to convert with the man advantage.

The Flames sealed the deal just two minutes into the third period with a fourth goal from forward Sean Monahan, his fourth point of the game, which was a career high for him.

The defeat comes just 11 days after the two teams met in Raleigh, and it was the Canes who came out on top of that one with a 5-2 defeat. Calgary clearly wasn’t going to let that result be replicated, and dominated for most of the game.

With just two months in the season remaining, the Hurricanes will look to bounce back on the road against the Winnipeg Jets Friday night.