CALGARY, Alberta — Mikael Backlund scored a tiebreaking short-handed objective early within the third interval, Jacob Markstrom stopped 34 pictures, and the Calgary Flames beat the Florida Panthers 3-1 on Monday night time.
Martin Pospisil and Blake Coleman additionally scored to assist Calgary enhance to 2-0-2 of their final 4 video games.
Sam Reinhart had a power-play objective for Florida, and Anthony Stolarz had 21 saves. The Panthers completed a five-game journey at 2-3-0.
Tied 1-1 within the third, the Flames‘ dangerous penalty kill came through shortly after failing to connect on a power play. Attempting to enter the Flames zone, Reinhart turned the puck over to Noah Hanifin, who sprung Backlund on a breakaway. With Reinhart chasing him, Backlund went to his backhand and lifted a high shot, glove-side over Stolarz at 3:31 for his seventh goal of the season.
“Hanny made a really good read, really good play, and then I saw a chance to go and he made a really nice pass and I took off,” Backlund said. “Tight game, you get to score the 2-1 goal, it always feels really good.”
Reinhart said the turnover was a mistake that can’t occur.
PHOTOS: Backlund scores short-handed objective in third interval as Flames beat Panthers 3-1
“Our power play’s got to be better. I’ve got to be better coming through the neutral zone,” he stated. “It’s unfortunate with the way it happened. It’s a tight one and a lot of times it’s a turnover, it’s a mistake like that and the other team capitalizes.”
Florida obtained a terrific likelihood to tie it with 2:13 left when Backlund was despatched off for delay of sport after flipping the puck into the gang. But on the ability play and with the goalie pulled, Coleman jumped on a unfastened puck and took off on a breakaway and was hauled down by Brandon Montour from behind. He was awarded a short-handed objective.
Calgary’s eight short-handed objectives on the season ties them for first with St. Louis.
“We’ve got some players who can skate well and if there’s a chance, we talk about we don’t cheat for chances, but if the play is there, we go for it,” stated Backlund. “If we can find a way to score some big goals, that’s big for the team.”
It’s been a shiny spot for a group that ranks close to the underside of the league on the ability play with 11 objectives – forward of solely Philadelphia (10), Washington (8) and St. Louis (8). In the final six weeks relationship again to Nov. 7, Calgary has extra short-handed objectives (6) than power-play objectives (4).
Calgary completed 0-for-5 on the ability play on the night time to drop to 1-for-19 of their final eight video games.
Markstrom was stable in his return from a seven-game absence as a consequence of a fractured finger. He moved to 6-2-1 in his final 9 begins and 7-8-2 on the season.
His 11 third interval saves included a flurry down the stretch because the Panthers pressed.
“When he’s fresh, he’s really good, and I feel like he’s been that way for almost every game he’s played for us this year,” Flames coach Adam Huska stated. “He’s a fighter. I think when a game’s on the line like that, that’s when he plays his best.”
Calgary struck first at 8:45 of the primary interval as Nazem Kadri’s backhand outlet move discovered Pospisil skating by way of the impartial zone. As he broke down the suitable facet with Kevin Stenlund in shut pursuit, Pospisil flung a rising backhand on internet that slipped previous Stolarz.
Florida tied it with 31 seconds left within the opening interval as Matthew Tkachuk deflected Aleksander Barkov’s level shot on internet. While Markstrom obtained his pad on the redirection, the rebound popped out to Reinhart who buried his team-leading 18th objective of the season.
Reinhart has 5 objectives and 9 assists in his final 11 video games.
Jonathan Huberdeau was held off the scoresheet once more, extending his career-worst stretch with no level to 9 video games. He has 4 objectives and 11 assists in 32 video games.
Panthers defenseman Dimitry Kulikov performed in his 900th profession sport.
UP NEXT
Panthers: Host St. Louis on Thursday night time to open a two-game homestand.
Flames: At Anaheim on Thursday night time to open a two-game journey.
