Nazem Kadri snaps out of slump in big way to lead Flames past Coyotes

CALGARY — Nazem Kadri felt like he was due.

“That’s for sure,” the Flames centre said, chuckling. “I’ve had a lot of good opportunities the last handful of games, so it’s nice to finally see it hit the back of the net.”

So much so, the Flames’ prized free-agent signing punctuated his first goal in nine games with a primal scream befitting the moment.

Did the animated celly stem from scoring the dramatic, go-ahead goal with just four minutes left to play?

Was it symbolic of just how emotional a lad he is?

Or did it have to do with ending a string in which he’d had just one assist in his previous eight games?

“Just a little bit of everything,” he said, smiling, after a sloppy, 3-2 win over an Arizona Coyotes club playing its 13th-straight road game.

“I’m a passionate player and I always want to go out and give it all I’ve got.

“There was a little bit of frustration starting to seep in.

“I feel like I had some great opportunities in the last number of games.

“It was a matter of time before it came.”

On this night, it couldn’t have come at a better time.

With seven minutes left in a 2-2 game, Kadri could be seen slamming his fists into his side of the bench after being slammed to the ice by Liam O’Brien without recourse.

Two minutes later, the payback would come on the power play, when a slick passing play started by Jonathan Huberdeau and Tyler Toffoli found Kadri alone at the faceoff dot for a one-timer the 32-year-old made no mistake on.

It was the team’s second power-play goal on the night, capping a string that saw the team score that same amount of extra-man goals in their previous 21 tries.

It was also his third point of the game, as he earlier added assists on goals by Elias Lindholm and linemate Dillon Dube.

“It’s funny how this game works — sometimes you feel like you’re playing great but no results to show for it, and sometimes it can be flipped,” said Kadri, whose scoring woes of late still have him leading the team with his ninth strike.

“I’m lucky we have a great group of guys who are able to pick me up.

“I’m happy to get those two points tonight.”

Other than a huge Dan Vladar save on Christian Fischer to preserve the result with 1:14 remaining, there was little else to take from a game in which the Flames felt fortunate to win after squandering a 2-0 first-period lead.

Huberdeau finished with two assists and the team has won three of its last four.

But Kadri’s breakout was the big news — an encouraging sign from a player who was unquestionably the team’s best skater the first dozen games.

So good was Kadri to open the season, the early belief was he may just eclipse the 87 points he hoarded in Colorado last year en route to his first Stanley Cup.

Since then, he’s been a poster boy for the team’s struggles to find the net.

But as he alluded to, the last few games have been much better, as linemates Dube and Andrew Mangiapane are also finally finishing.

Dube now has four goals in his last eight, and Mangiapane has three goals in his last four.

“The line’s been hopping, and lots of jump, and giving us momentum, all three of them,” said coach Darryl Sutter.

“The kids know each other and play off each other really well, and when they get their speed game going, Naz can play the middle of the ice and do a lot of the experience work.”

He chuckled as he said it, as this was finally one of those evenings when a close game went their way with that elusive special team goal.

“Special teams are going to win you a lot of hockey games down the stretch,” said Kadri, who was asked what the key was to improving their power-play efficiency.

“I think we’ve just got to relax out there and make plays.

“We’re great players.

“Just help each other out.”

The Flames wrap up their five-game homestand Wednesday against Minnesota, before heading to Columbus for a Friday night reunion with Johnny Gaudreau.