The Calgary Flames capitalized on a strong first period, powered by Yegor Sharangovich and Jonathan Huberdeau’s power-play goals, to secure a 3-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Sunday night.
Morgan Frost also found the back of the net for Calgary, while goaltender Dan Vlader delivered a solid performance with 27 saves, helping the Flames maintain their hold on the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
Seattle, struggling with consistency, suffered its fourth loss in six games. Kaapo Kakko and Brandon Tanev scored for the Kraken, and Joey Daccord made 32 saves in the net.
Flames Set the Tone Early
The Flames took control late in the first period. Frost opened the scoring with 5:57 left, shortly after Seattle’s Jaden Schwartz had a power-play goal overturned due to a successful challenge for goaltender interference.
Just over two minutes later, Sharangovich extended Calgary’s lead to 2-0, slipping the puck through Daccord’s five-hole. The Kraken challenged for goaltender interference, but after a lengthy review, the goal stood. Huberdeau added to the lead with his 20th goal of the season, capitalizing on a 5-on-3 power play with 2:04 remaining in the period.
Kraken Fight Back but falls short
Seattle found life in the second period when Kakko buried a power-play one-timer with 5:29 left, cutting the deficit to 3-1. Tanev made it a one-goal game at 5:41 of the third, but the Kraken couldn’t find the equalizer.
Schwartz recorded an assist on Kakko’s goal, marking his 300th career point.
Takeaways
Flames: Calgary continues to excel when scoring first, ranking seventh in the league with a 70% winning percentage in such games. However, their slow starts have been a concern, with only 30 first-period goals this season.
Kraken: Seattle’s defensive struggles in the opening frame persisted, as they’ve now allowed 61 first-period goals—second-most in the NHL. The early deficit made it difficult for them to establish momentum.
Key Moment
With Calgary up 1-0, Brayden Pachal’s heavy hit at center ice sparked a skirmish, resulting in a double minor against Seattle for roughing. The Flames capitalized on the power play, doubling their lead and never relinquishing control.
Stat of the Night
Seattle’s discipline issues were costly. They racked up seven penalties for 14 minutes, and at one point, three players were in the penalty box simultaneously.
What’s Next
On Tuesday, Calgary returns home to host Toronto to kick off a three-game homestand, while Seattle will face off against Detroit at home.
