Instant Reaction: Flames grind out overtime win over Bruins

First period shots were 8-8. Via Natural Stat Trick, 5v5 scoring chances were 10-5 Flames and high-danger scoring chances were 4-2 Flames.

The second period remained back and forth, again with both teams having good looks.

Midway through the period, the Flames managed to get one back and tie the game. Mikael Backlund’s line got a bit of sustained zone time and got a bit of a cycle play going, with Backlund passing to Blake Coleman in the slot area. Coleman’s shot beat Jeremy Swayman to tie the game up at 1-1.

Second period shots were 9-7 Flames. 5v5 scoring chances were 6-5 Flames and high-danger scoring chances were 2-2.

The third frame was a bit of a slog, with both teams getting looks but the Flames struggling to put the puck on the net and neither team really generating any dangerous-looking opportunities.

Third period shots were 8-1 Bruins.

This game went to overtime, with the Flames starting with a four-on-three power play after Coleman drew a high-sticking minor at the tail-end of the third period. Wolf made a big shorthanded save on Pavel Zacha (and then Nikita Zadorov missed on a subsequent scoring chance). Connor Zary jammed in a rebound off a Yegor Sharangovich initial chance to give the Flames a 2-1 overtime win.

Why the Flames won

Sometimes, folks, getting offence going is like trying to get ketchup out of a bottle. The Flames just seemed to be fighting the puck a lot in this game. They were able to get zone time and near-miss chances, but this was one of those evenings where passes seemed to just elude their intended recipient (or the recipient couldn’t get good contact on a shot). Heck, if we’re being honest: neither team seemed to be feeling it offensively.

But the Flames finally managed to cash in on their fifth power play (after Wolf made a gigantic save in overtime) and it was enough to win this one.

Red Warrior

We’ll give the nod to Blake Coleman, who scored the Flames’ lone goal in regulation and was consistently noticeable on the ice.

Honourable mention to Dustin Wolf: he wasn’t overly busy, but he had to make a few huge stops at key times.

Turning point

Wolf’s overtime save(s) followed by Zary’s game-winner.

This and that

Prior to the anthems, the Flames observed a moment of silence to recognize the passing of former Flames forward Guy Chouinard.

The Flames busted out some new line combinations, shuffling some players around: Connor Zary was with Jonathan Huberdeau and Morgan Frost, Matt Coronato was reunited with Blake Coleman and Mikael Backlund, and John Beecher slotted back in on the fourth line in place of Justin Kirkland.

After Burner

Join Dean “Boomer” Molberg and Kent Wilson right after the game for After Burner!

Up next

The Flames (17-18-4) are back in action on New Year’s Eve when they host the Philadelphia Flyers.