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The Calgary Flames began a pretty crucial stretch of games on Tuesday night when they visited the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center. The good news is that the Flames never trailed during the game. The bad news is that the Ducks battled back to tie things up twice.
But the Flames managed to compose themselves and execute on a power play in extra time, beating the Ducks by a 3-2 score in overtime.
The rundown
The Flames were dominant early on, registering the game’s first eight shots. But the Ducks found their legs and did a great job of pushing back and peppering Dustin Wolf with shots of their own.
Late in the first period, though, the Flames managed to take advantage of a nice bit of puck luck and grab the lead. A shot from Joel Hanley was first deflected by Blake Coleman’s stick and then glanced in off MacKenzie Weegar, who was pinching towards the Ducks net-front area. That gave the Flames a 1-0 lead.
First period shots were 12-11 Flames. Via Natural Stat Trick, five-on-five scoring chances were 8-4 Ducks (high-danger chances were 2-2).
Just under seven minutes into the second period, Connor Zary and Drew Helleson collided knee-on-knee. Zary left the game with an injury and Helleson was tossed for a kneeing major penalty. The Flames looked a bit out of sorts after the collision and were scored on during a two minute spell of four-on-four play, with an Alex Killorn wrist shot fooling Wolf to tie the game at 1-1.
But the Flames started to get their wits about them. They managed to retake the lead later in the period, as Nazem Kadri won an offensive zone draw and headed towards the net. Weegar found Kadri with a great pass and Kadri scored to give the Flames a 2-1 edge.
Second period shots were 9-5 Flames. Five-on-five scoring chances were 9-5 Flames (high-danger chances were 5-0 Flames).
The third period was pretty back and forth, with the Ducks managing to take advantage of a man advantage to tie up the game.
With Jake Bean in the penalty box, Mason McTavish deflected a shot from the point from Cutter Gauthier and it eluded Dustin Wolf to tie the game at 2-2. (It’s the seventh consecutive game in which the Flames have allowed a shorthanded goal.)
Third period shots were 11-8 Ducks. Five-on-five scoring chances were
This game required extra time to decide a winner.
Both teams had scoring chances, with Jackson LaCombe failing to score on a breakaway on Wolf. Play went the other way and a scramble play in front of the Ducks net led to a Flames power play. On that power play, Kadri couldn’t score on the initial chance, but Matt Coronato’s pressure on Jacob Trouba collecting the rebound led to a weird bounce right to Jonathan Huberdeau, who scored on the open net to give the Flames a 3-2 victory.
Why the Flames won
The Flames played pretty well overall in this game. They seemed rattled after Zary’s injury, but they managed to collect themselves and battle back for the two points
Red Warrior
Let’s give it to Weegar, the birthday boy. But stick-taps to Kadri and Wolf, who were both strong as well.
Turning point
The Flames have struggled on special teams at points this year. A struggling penalty kill got this game to overtime, but a pretty timely power play goal ended this game. That’s how hockey unfolds sometimes.
This and that
Sportsnet dedicated this game’s broadcast to the memory of the late Al MacNeil, who passed away on Sunday.
Up next
The Flames (19-14-7) are headed up the freeway to Los Angeles. They face the Kings on Wednesday night to complete the back-to-back set.
