Yegor Sharangovich and Mikael Backlund scored early in the third period, propelling the Calgary Flames to a 6-3 win over the Seattle Kraken on Saturday night.
Sharangovich broke a 2-2 tie with a tip-in at 1:33 of the third, followed by Backlund scoring on a rebound at 4:00 after goalie Philipp Grubauer made a sprawling save on A.J. Green’s breakaway attempt.
“I thought we went out in the third and took care of the game right away,” Backlund said. “We dictated the third period. I thought we played a really mature game all night, didn’t give them too many shots and chances. It was really good.”
The victory snapped Calgary’s six-game losing streak.
“We’ve dropped a bunch in a row, so you don’t necessarily want to think it’s that big of a game,” Flames coach Ryan Huska said. “But it’s important for us because we played the right way. I think we limited scoring shots, and there were a lot of guys who elevated their game.”
Martin Pospisil and Noah Hanifin also scored for Calgary, with Backlund and Rasmus Andersson adding empty-net goals. It was Pospisil’s first NHL goal.
“Pretty much living the dream right now,” Pospisil said. “It’s something I probably will never forget.”
Dan Vladar made 17 saves for the Flames.
“You cannot underestimate an opponent in this league anymore,” Seattle’s Pierre-Édouard Bellemare said. “Doesn’t matter the situation of their organization or their season. If you don’t meet a team’s desperation, you’ll be in trouble.”
Jaden Schwartz, Oliver Bjorkstrand, and Eeli Tolvanen scored for Seattle, while Grubauer made 25 saves.
“I thought we got out-hustled in the first 10 minutes of the third period, plain and simple,” Kraken coach Dave Hakstol said. “That’s just what it was. There’s no ducking that for us.”
Calgary managed the win despite losing forward Andrew Mangiapane to a match penalty at 8:45 of the first period for cross-checking Jared McCann in the head. McCann briefly left the game but returned shortly after.
“I haven’t had a chance to look at it again,” Huska said. “We’ll probably do that on the plane.”
UP NEXT
- Flames: Host Nashville on Tuesday night.
- Kraken: At Arizona on Tuesday night.
