ICYMI: Michael Stone scores winning goal against Ducks in his 500th NHL game

Longtime Calgary Flames defenceman @Michael Stone came up clutch with the game-winning goal in the third period of Wednesday’s 4–2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks.

Stone, 31, is currently in his sixth season with the Flames since being acquired from the Arizona Coyotes at the 2017 trade deadline. Relegated to a depth role in recent years, Stone has returned to the lineup on a more regular basis lately after an injury to @Oliver Kylington.

Appearing in only his seventh game of 2021–22 on Wednesday, Stone reached the 500-game milestone for his National Hockey League career and celebrated the occasion with a beautiful goal. The right-handed defenceman received a pass from @Andrew Mangiapane at the left point before stepping in and hammering a shot past Ducks goaltender @Anthony Stolarz from the top of the circle.

Mangiapane picked up the lone helper on the 34th goal of Stone’s NHL career, which gave the Flames a 3–1 lead at the 10:28 mark of the third period. Through 176 games in the regular season since joining the Flames, Stone has 10 goals and 36 points.

Stone also picked up a helper on @Elias Lindholm’s opening goal in the first period of Wednesday’s game, bringing his point total on the season to four in seven appearances with the Flames. The 6’3″, 210-lb. rearguard logged 18:39 against the Ducks while primarily playing on a pairing with @Chris Tanev.

Entering Wednesday’s game, Stone had never recorded a game-winning goal in a Flames sweater. His last such goal came back on March 26, 2016, Stone’s final game of his last full season with the Arizona Coyotes; after scoring what would stand as the deciding goal, Stone suffered a knee injury later in the game that prematurely ended his 2015–16 campaign.

Lindholm, Stone, @Tyler Toffoli, and @Matthew Tkachuk all scored for the Flames in their 4–2 win over the Ducks at Honda Center. Calgary goaltender @Jacob Markstrom was named the game’s first star after making 26 saves in the victory; Stone also earned recognition as the third star of the contest.

Calgary improved to 42–19–9 with the win; the Ducks fell to 28–32–12. The Flames will return to action on Thursday when they visit the San Jose Sharks (29–31–9) at 8:30 p.m. MT.

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