Flames Doubled By Blues

Matt Coronato scored twice, and the Flames had a bevy of chances, but two quick third-period goals from the Blues proved costly, as St. Louis spoiled Calgary's home-opener party with a 4-2 win Saturday at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Airdrie product Jake Neighbours put home a pair of goals for the visitors, including the game-winner, while Joel Hofer stopped 27 shots to foil the Flames attack.

From the drop of the puck, the locals looked determined, outshooting the Blues 9-4 through the opening 20 minutes.

And that total didn’t even include a pair of 2-on-1 opportunities that went begging, the first a backhand off the stick of Rasmus Andersson that rolled past the left post, the second a chip shot from Nazem Kadri from just outside the blue paint that sailed high.

But Coronato made good on a bounce of his own. The puck went around the horn from Kadri at the right wing, to Joel Farabee up top, who then dished to his fellow American at the left dot. Coronato ripped a one-timer goalward that caromed off a St. Louis shin pad and in.

The chances kept coming in the middle stanza. Farabee and Zayne Parekh both struck iron, while rookie Sam Honzek was robbed on a pair of opportunities including a breakaway that led to a Flames powerplay.

Hofer then stopped Coronato with a 10-beller save, lunging to his right across the crease to deny a sure goal from the left face-off circle.

But Coronato got redemption with just over five minutes left in the period. After two quick St. Louis goals put the visitors in front, Coronato skated to open ice as a clearing attempt bounced off a Blues leg into space along the right wing. He stepped into the zone with the disc and unleashed a snapshot that exited the top corner just as quickly as it entered.

Dustin Wolf made 24 saves on the afternoon, his best coming off Neighbours during a Calgary penalty kill six minutes into period three. A rebound fell to the St. Louis forward for a tap-in, but Wolf threw his right arm back, getting the paddle of his stick and blocker on the puck to keep it out.

But like Coronato in period two, Neighbours got redemption in period three, scoring the go-ahead goal on a deflection before Pius Suter added insurance on a deflection of his own just over two minutes later.

Coronato and Honzek led the home side with four shots on goal apiece, while MacKenzie Weegar's 25:25 of ice-time was the most among Calgary skaters.

Defenceman Zayne Parekh made his season debut for the Flames, finishing the contest with two shots on goal, while 4:31 of his 17 minutes of ice-time was spent on the powerplay.

The Lineup:

FORWARDS

Matvei Gridin - Nazem Kadri - Matt Coronato

Joel Farabee - Morgan Frost - Yegor Sharangovich

Sam Honzek - Mikael Backlund - Blake Coleman

Ryan Lomberg - Connor Zary - Adam Klapka

DEFENCE

Joel Hanley - MacKenzie Weegar

Kevin Bahl - Rasmus Andersson

Brayden Pachal - Zayne Parekh

GOALTENDERS

Dustin Wolf

Devin Cooley

They Said It:

The Numbers Game:

Shots: CGY 29, STL 28

Powerplay: CGY 1-6, STL 1-4

Faceoffs: CGY 39.3%, STL 60.7%

Hits: CGY 22, STL 29

Blocked shots: CGY 21, STL 17

5-on-5 Scoring Chances: CGY 22, STL 22

5-on-5 High-Danger Scoring Chances: CGY 14, STL 14

Up Next:

The Flames will be back on home ice Tuesday for a 7 p.m. puck drop versus the Vegas Golden Knights (CLICK FOR TICKETS) before hitting the road for away games in Utah and Vegas.