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Instant Reaction: Flames best the Blues in the shootout
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Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Ryan Pike
Mar 19, 2026, 00:28 EDT
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Welcome to Instant Reaction, where we give you our instant reaction to tonight’s Calgary Flames game and ask our readers to do the same in the comments section below! 
The Calgary Flames returned home on Wednesday evening after a five game road trip. They hosted the St. Louis Blues in their first game back, and the game was a perfectly fine representation of National Hockey League action, albeit one between two distinctly non-playoff clubs.
In a game that featured three successful coach’s challenges, a shootout was required to determine the victor. The Flames got the better of the evening, winning 2-1.

The rundown

The Flames opened the scoring 2:34 into the first period. Connor Zary and Ryan Strome executed a really nice give and go, ending with Zary beating Joel Hofer with a shot in front of the net. That gave the Flames a 1-0 lead.
Awhile later, Martin Pospisil scored after Kevin Bahl intercepted an outlet pass! But the Blues challenged and the goal was wiped out because Bahl couldn’t quite hold the puck in at the blueline while intercepting that pass.
Awhile later, the Flames scored again, with Yegor Sharangovich scoring off a rush sequence. But the Blues challenged and the goal was wiped out due to Zary batting the puck out of mid-air with a high stick.
First period shots were 11-8 Flames.
Early in the second period, the Blues scored off the rush. Dylan Holloway fired a wrister that found a way through Devin Cooley to tie the game at 1-1.
The Flames scored again off the rush to retake the lead, with Joel Farabee scoring off a feed from Mikael Backlund. But the Blues challenged, again, and the goal was wiped out due to the zone entry being off-side.
Second period shots were 7-6 Blues.
The pace of play was back and forth throughout the third period, but neither team scored.
Third period shots were 9-7 Blues.
The Blues had the better chances in the first part of overtime, but Zary took a high stick and earned the Flames a power play. The Flames had some looks, but couldn’t bury anything.
This game required a shootout to decide the extra point. Farabee and Matvei Gridin scored in the skills competition and Cooley blanked the Blues, and the Flames won 2-1.

Why the Flames won

This was a battle between two teams far away from the playoff cutline. Both teams worked hard. They battled. But there was an amount of baked-in sloppiness from both teams, both with and without the puck. But the Flames had some good jump, stuck around in this game despite the reviews wiping out three goals, and they made enough plays in the shootout to get the extra point.

Red Warrior

Connor Zary scored a really nice goal to open the scoring, so we’ll go with him.
Blake Coleman was also really noticeable.

Turning point

Pick a disallowed Flames goal. There’s plenty to choose from. The Flames probably could’ve won this one in regulation.

This and that

Devin Cooley started in net.
This was just the second time since coach’s challenges were introduced in 2015-16 that one team (a) made three challenges and (b) had three successful challenges. The last time was March 20, 2023 when Edmonton did so against San Jose.

After Burner

Join Mike Gould and Kent Wilson right after the game for After Burner!

Up next

The Flames (27-34-7) are back in action at the Saddledome on Friday evening when they host the Florida Panthers.

PRESENTED BY STAKE

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