Calgary surges in third interval, overcoming three-goal deficit to high Vancouver Canucks 6-5 in OT
Article content material
The Calgary Flames, a squad that no person is choosing as a part of the playoff image, are out to shock the hockey world.
They had been definitely stuffed with surprises in Wednesday’s season-opener towards the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Enviornment, pulling of an inconceivable comeback en path to a 6-5 time beyond regulation victory.
The Flames scored 4 unanswered to erase the injury completed throughout a dreadful opening interval, solely to give up the tying tally with lower than two minutes remaining in regulation. Sophomore ahead Connor Zary capped the chaos with a beautiful aim in time beyond regulation.
Commercial 2
Article content material
It was a character-building, belief-boosting win, little question. It may nonetheless be a game-of-the-year candidate in December or January. The Flames are one in all simply six groups in additional than 35 years to beat a three-goal deficit of their annual lid-lifter.
As Anthony Mantha advised Sportsnet: “I feel we confirmed everybody tonight, don’t take us flippantly.”
Mantha scored the primary aim of the brand new season for the Flames — and also you’ll be studying extra about him in only a minute. Rasmus Andersson, Martin Pospisil, MacKenzie Weegar and Jonathan Huberdeau additionally discovered the again of the online in Vancouver. Andersson, Mantha, Pospisil, Zary and Nazem Kadri every picked up a pair of factors, whereas Dan Vladar completed with 20 saves to win his first Sport 1 gig on the NHL stage.
Brock Boeser led the cost for the Canucks, with two objectives.
Because the Flames flip their consideration to Saturday’s home-opener towards the Philadelphia Flyers, listed here are three takeaways from a wild one …
Martin Pospisil, Connor Zary make dynamic duo
In 2023, Pospisil and Zary may have watched the Flames’ opener collectively.
They had been each within the minors on the time.
Article content material
Commercial 3
Article content material
They did quite a bit collectively final season — recalled simply three days aside and each making a mark as rookie linemates. It appeared becoming that they had been the main components on Wednesday’s time beyond regulation snipe.
Pospisil circled deep in his personal territory, hit Zary with an outlet cross after which scorched up the ice. Along with his wheels, the 24-year-old Pospisil not solely received a race with Boeser as he beelined for the blue paint, but additionally appeared to momentarily distract a backward-skating Filip Hronek. The 23-year-old Zary seen that, catching Hronek flat-footed with a toe-drag after which reducing arduous to his forehand as he tucked the puck previous Canucks starter Arturs Silovs.
It was a reminder of the chemistry between Pospisil and Zary. Whereas Flames bench boss Ryan Huska received’t be shuffling his strains after this epic comeback, it’s a card he can sustain his sleeve.
Pospisil scored one in all his personal Wednesday, whereas Zary assisted on Weegar’s third-period potting.
These sophomore forwards weren’t the one guys to come back up clutch. We must always shout-out third-pairing blue-liner Brayden Pachal, who stole a aim from Nils Hoglander whereas the rating was knotted at 4 apiece. Pachal was parked behind Vladar and served as final line of defence, delivering a kick save that earned an enthusiastic fist-bump from his puck-stopping pal on the subsequent stoppage. Moments later, Pachal had the helper on Huberdeau’s marker, which gave the Flames their first lead of the night.
Commercial 4
Article content material
Spectacular intro for Anthony Mantha
Mantha definitely made an impression in his debut in Calgary’s colors.
A Gordie Howe Hat-Trick will try this. He’s, in truth, the primary participant in franchise historical past to realize that feat in a season-opener.
Signed this summer season to a one-year, US$3.5-million contract, Mantha fired large of the goal on an early breakaway, however he made no mistake on his second all-alone alternative of the night time. Shortly after being free of the sin bin and along with his squad nonetheless on the penalty kill, the 30-year-old winger intercepted a cross inside his personal blue-line and hustled the opposite route with a full head of steam. After leaving Quinn Hughes in his rearview, he froze Silovs with a faux shot, deked to his backhand and slipped the puck via the five-hole.
Mantha quickly after demanded a dance with JT Miller, insisting that he reply the bell for a success that injured Kevin Rooney.
He accomplished his Gordie Howe Hattie with an help on Pospisil’s strike from the excessive slot.
It was the type of efficiency from Mantha that made you suppose again to this coaching camp remark from his new boss. As Huska advised reporters in late September: “Teaching towards him during the last variety of years, there have been nights the place you watch him play and also you’re like, ‘My gosh, this man is the most effective participant on the ice.’ ”
Commercial 5
Article content material
He was definitely one in all ’em on Wednesday.
“I feel what you noticed tonight from him is what we’d prefer to see fairly persistently,” Huska advised reporters at Rogers Enviornment. “If he strikes his toes and he’s robust on his stick, then he’s capable of win puck battles and he can generate some stuff for us. So a number of the identical. He’s enjoying with some tempo proper now, which is sweet.”
Fear over Kevin Rooney
In what was a daunting scene in Wednesday’s opening interval, it appeared that Rooney would must be stretchered off the ice at Rogers Enviornment.
The Flames’ fourth-line centre crashed arduous into the boards after a verify by Miller, remaining down for a number of minutes as he obtained consideration from medical personnel from each groups.
As crews began to roll a stretcher via the gate, Rooney was helped to his toes, with a few teammates aiding him as he skated gingerly again to the bench and headed instantly to the locker-room. He didn’t return.
“From what I perceive, he’s doing wonderful,” Huska stated in his post-game scrum.
Rooney, 31, missed greater than half of the 2023-24 marketing campaign as a consequence of an damage that he suffered in a training-camp follow. He was hit by Miller on simply his second shift Wednesday, with the Flames livid that he didn’t have the puck on the time.
Commercial 6
Article content material
For the remainder of the primary interval, the guests appeared sidetracked by the considered revenge. The Mantha-Miller scrap appeared to permit them to refocus. Bother is, it was already 4-1 for the hosts, however the Flames ought to be darn happy with the best way they rallied.
Miller advised reporters in Vancouver that he believed it was a clear hit, though he had but to see a replay.
“I do know he’s a great dude and a great participant and I by no means wish to see anyone laying like that on the ice,” Miller stated. “I clearly perceive generally you must reply for stuff like that.”
If the Flames must recall a centre from the minors as a fill-in for Rooney, Justin Kirkland and Sam Morton are the main candidates. Bear in mind, they simply misplaced pivot prospect Cole Schwindt on the waiver wire.
Really useful from Editorial
-
25 issues we marvel concerning the 2024-25 Calgary Flames
-
Grading the Calgary Flames heading into 2024-25 NHL season
Article content material