The Calgary Flames have been eagerly waiting for Jonathan Huberdeau to find his scoring touch from last season. A game-winning goal might be the spark they needed.
Huberdeau broke a tie with eight minutes remaining in the third period, netting his seventh goal of the season to give Calgary a 3-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday night.
“We all know what he’s capable of, and we all know his numbers from last year and all that kind of stuff,” Calgary defenseman Rasmus Andersson said. “The goal today probably means a lot to him.”
Unmarked in the slot, Huberdeau capitalized on a deflected shot from Andersson. Despite being denied by Philipp Grubauer earlier in the third period under similar circumstances, Huberdeau found the back of the net this time, beating Grubauer to the stick side.
The Flames rebounded from a home loss to Edmonton on Tuesday night.
Tyler Toffoli scored his 15th goal of the season in the first period, and Nazem Kadri added a power-play goal in the second period for Calgary. Elias Lindholm contributed two assists, and Kadri added another assist to his tally along with his 14th goal.
Dan Vladar made 30 saves for Calgary, including a few key stops in the closing seconds after Seattle pulled Grubauer. Calgary improved to 7-3-2 against Pacific Division opponents this season.
“He did exactly what your backup guy is supposed to do on a back-to-back,” Flames coach Darryl Sutter said.
Ryan Donato scored late in the first period to pull Seattle even, and Jamie Oleksiak gave the Kraken a 2-1 lead early in the second period. Grubauer made 41 saves, the most in his two seasons with the Kraken, stopping numerous high-quality chances from the Flames.
Donato’s goal was his fifth in the last six games. He had a four-game goal streak snapped in Seattle’s overtime loss to Vancouver before the Christmas break but picked up where he left off. Jordan Eberle assisted on both Seattle goals.
“I thought the second half (of the game) we didn’t generate enough zone time,” Seattle coach Dave Hakstol said. “To be able to get in the zone and then hold possession and create opportunities, we didn’t get enough of that in the second half.”
BACK TO BACK
Calgary played its third back-to-back of December and fourth of the season. Seattle has played just one back-to-back, which came in games Nos. 1 and 2 back in October. The Kraken have seven more back-to-backs remaining this season.
Game Notes
Calgary D Michael Stone was scratched after playing 12:08 against Edmonton on Tuesday. Stone had appeared in 16 straight games. Calgary D Dennis Gilbert was activated from injured reserve Wednesday but was scratched from the lineup. Gilbert has appeared in just one game since Nov. 25.
UP NEXT
Flames: Host Vancouver on Saturday night.
Kraken: Host Edmonton on Friday night.
