Instant Reaction: Flames win ugly against the Flyers

Second period shots were 7-6 Flames. 5v5 scoring chances were 5-5 and high-danger scoring chances were 4-0 Flyers.

The Flyers pressed in the third period, including a wild sequence six minutes into the period that featured a scrambly save by Wolf and three shot blocks by MacKenzie Weegar.

A little later, the Flames got some insurance. Off an offensive zone face-off win, Huberdeau deflected a Weegar point shot past Kolosov to make it a 2-0 lead for the Flames.

The Flyers kept pressing and made the game close late in regulation, though. Off an offensive zone face-off win of their own, Travis Konecny fired a quick shot that beat Dustin Wolf to cut the Calgary lead to 2-1.

The Flyers pulled Kolosov for the extra attacker and pressed late in this game. But the Flames held on to win 2-1.

Third period shots were 9-4 Flyers.

Why the Flames won

The Flames did what they could to play their preferred style: tight-checking and low event. They seemed to do a good job minimizing the proverbial “big mistakes” that have characterized their game of late. And because of that, they stayed out of the box, rolled their lines, and did their thing.

It was not a picturesque example of this great sport, but it was the precise type of game they needed to have given the stretch of results they’ve had recently.

Red Warrior

We’ll give this one to Wolf, who had a good bounce-back outing after a rough first period against Nashville. But let’s also give kudos to Weegar and Huberdeau.

Turning point

That early third period sequence with three Weegar shot blocks was pretty huge. It was arguably the biggest breakdown that the Flames had all game, but they did what they could to collapse down and bail their goaltender out. Shortly after that, they got their insurance goal that held up as the eventual game-winner.

This and that

Zayne Parekh and Connor Zary returned to the lineup after being scratches against Ottawa and Nashville. Parekh played his 10th game of the season, officially hitting the start button on his entry level contract.

After Burner

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

Up next

The Flames (3-9-2) are headed home. They’re back in action on Wednesday night when they commemorate Nazem Kadri’s 1,000th NHL game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.