The Flames recovered from coughing up a third period lead to extend their streak, the Stars failed to score for the first time this season, and a couple of Hurricanes couldn’t beat an empty net. Here are six things we learned in the NHL Saturday.
Flames stretch streak to five games
Make it five straight wins and nine at home for Calgary Flames. This team’s ability to entertain knows no bounds, even when it nearly costs them a comfortable third period lead.
The Flames held a 4-1 lead over the New York Rangers five minutes into the third frame. The Rangers scored three straight to pull even, forcing an overtime period.
T.J. Brodie beat Antti Raanta at 2:09 of the overtime period to secure the Flames’ fifth win in a row. Calgary climbed out of Western Conference basement for the second time this week with the win, pulling within two points of the Vancouver Canucks for a playoff spot in the Pacific Division.
Johnny Gaudreau totalled two goals and an assist, giving him 15 points in his last 10 games. Brodie’s goal helped him run a personal point-scoring streak to six games.
The Flames improved to 13-14-2 on the season but have just five wins in regulation.
Backes is not afraid to fight superstars
David Backes was named the first star in the St. Louis Blues‘ win over the Dallas Stars. The Blues captain recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick with a goal, assist and a fight.
Backes’ scrap was with Stars captain Jamie Benn. Backes has quite an affinity for dropping the mitts with the opposition’s stars.
Backes’ fight card for the 2015-16 season features three bouts: one with Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, another with Toronto Maple Leafs’ Nazem Kadri and Saturday’s dance with Benn.
The six-foot-three, 221-pound centre sports a record of 1-2, but more importantly he shades positive in the punch Corsi count with a solid plus-7 rating. The underlying numbers, baby. That’s what really matters.
Somebody stopped the Stars
The Stars suffered their first shutout loss of the season at the hands of the Blues.
Jake Allen stopped 26 shots from the NHL’s most potent offence as Backes, Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan Reaves scored for the Blues in the 3-0 victory.
It was Reaves’ first goal of the season and his first in 40 games going back to last season. That’s cause for celebration, which Reaves delivered on with what was likely the NHL’s first brush with “dabbing.”
Reaves also offered Tarasenko a quick tutorial on how to dab on the bench.
Senators set an unfortunate franchise record
The Ottawa Senators surrendered a franchise record for shots against in a period with 27 in Saturday’s 3-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens.
How did goaltender Craig Anderson feel about his teammates hanging him out to dry? Not very good.
Anderson was pulled early in the second period after giving up what looked like the Canadiens’ fourth goal. It would be disallowed, but the damage was done. Anderson watched the rest of this one from the bench.
Oh really? O’Reilly’s 100th goal was a memorable one
Ryan O’Reilly‘s overtime goal versus the Los Angeles Kings was his 10th of the season and the 100th tally of his career. As if reaching that milestone wasn’t memorable enough, O’Reilly scored it in a rather ridiculous fashion.
O’Reilly tripped on defenceman Alec Martinez’s stick and still managed to flip the puck past Jhonas Enroth while falling on his back. Allow Sabres play-by-play man Rick Jeanneret to guide you through this most bizarre experience.
The Sabres halted the Los Angeles Kings’ six-game win streak with the victory, putting an end to their own three-game skid.
‘Canes can’t convert on an empty net
The Carolina Hurricanes were clinging to a 4-3 lead over the Arizona Coyotes late in the third period, facing an empty net.
First Elias Lindholm channeled his inner Patrik Stefan and failed to bury the puck on a breakaway. Then Jordan Staal sent one just wide of the goal on yet another opportunity versus the empty cage. Of course, the Coyotes tied the game when Connor Murphy beat Eddie Lack with 16 seconds left on the clock.
Victor Rask bailed out Lindholm and Staal by notching the overtime winner, but the outlook on those two guys not suffering endless ribbing from their Hurricanes teammates is not good.
