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Calgary Flames

Coyotes 3, Flames 2 Recap

Despite a second period comeback, the Flames could not prolong their two-game winning streak Saturday night in Glendale.

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A dominant second period was not enough to secure the Flames their third straight win on Saturday night in Glendale.

An early goal by Chris Summers put Calgary down 1-0 before the five minute mark of the first period. The Coyotes would soon add to their lead when Rob Klinkhammer beat Joni Ortio just five minutes later, closing out the opening frame with a 2-0 lead and 11 shots on goal to the Flames’ eight.

Calgary would storm back to tie the game in a penalty-filled second period. First, Curtis Glencross scored to bring the visitors to within one with former Flame Derek Morris off for holding. Then, after an odd sequence that saw Ladislav Smid and Shane Doan head to the box on coincidental interference and slashing calls followed by Curtis Glencross and Mike Ribeiro for roughing, Jeff Halpern would get the extra two, sending Calgary back to the powerplay.

Mikael Backlund (who else) capitalized, tying the game for the Flames with just under five minutes left in the middle frame. The buzzer sounded on the second period with the Flames out-shooting the Coyotes 18-6(!).

Unlike Friday’s game, the visiting team could not sustain the pressure heading into the final frame. Phoenix shut the Flames down, limiting them to just five shots on goal in the final 20 minutes. Calgary would ultimately win the shot battle by a margin of 31-26, but Mike Smith managed to do what the opposing goalies in the Flames’ previous two games have not and hold them off.

Some items of note in this game:

  • Corban Knight played just over five minutes after scoring the shootout winner on Friday night in Dallas. Ben Hanowski and Kevin Westgarth didn’t fare much better either.
  • TJ Brodie followed up his monster game in Dallas with nearly 24 minutes of ice time and over five minutes on the penalty kill, where the Flames negated seven of Phoenix’s eight powerplays.
  • Mikael Backlund, Mike Cammalleri and Sean Monahan all finished the game at 50% or better in the faceoff circle.
  • Curtis Glencross continues to find his feet after returning from a high-ankle sprain. The forward scored a goal and played nearly 15 minutes tonight, 1:29 of which came on the powerplay.

The Flames return home from their brief two-game road trip to take on the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night.

by Hayley Mutch