Last-Minute Heartbreak

Brandon Saad scored the game-winner with 48 seconds left in regulation time as the Blues slipped past the Flames 4-3.

The Flames got goals from MacKenzie Weegar, Noah Hanifin and Yegor Sharangovich, but the visitors scored three unanswered goals to take both points at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

After the two sides traded early chances, Calgary grabbed momentum midway through the opening frame, as the top line forced a turnover in the Blues zone.

The puck came free to Jonathan Huberdeau who shot once, then found his own rebound, though St. Louis netminder Jordan Binnington was equal to the task.

Moments after Huberdeau’s chances, the Flames opened the scoring when Weegar accepted a D-to-D pass from partner Rasmus Andersson.

He strode down the left side and snapped a shot short-side on Binnington that was labelled for the top corner.

The goal helped add to what already was a momentus day for Weegar.

Earlier Tuesday, the Flames blueliner was presented with his championship ring, after he helped Canada claim gold at the IIHF World Championship last spring.

Weegar was part of Canada's leadership group at the event, and led the Canadians in scoring over his 10 appearances, totalling three goals and 11 points.

The locals kept up the pressure as the opening period waned, with Mikael Backlund putting his stamp on the contest with about six minutes left.

He forced a pair of turnovers, one in the neutral zone and one in the offensive end, then forced Binnington into a rebound save to keep the scoreline at 1-0 for the home side.

The St. Louis netminder made 16 saves in the first period as the Flames kept pressing; Matt Coronato earned a pair of chances - the first on a catch-and-shoot, the second on a one-timer from the left circle - that forced Binnington’s hand.

At the other end, Jacob Markstrom was sharp, denying Kevin Hayes with a sublime glove save on a Blues powerplay, then racing out of his crease and sliding to prevent a Saad breakaway opportunity with four minutes left.

The Saad-Markstrom feud would continue on into the middle stanza, as the St. Louis winger tied the game at 1-1 at the 8:27 mark.

But just over a minute later, Markstrom would again foil Saad, turning away a short-handed breakaway chance by covering the low half of the net.

The Flames regained the lead at 11:13 of the second period thanks to Hanifin, who stepped into a slapshot in the left-wing circle and blasted it past Binnington for his eighth goal of the year.

Sharangovich added to the lead 64 seconds later, becoming the second Calgary forward to reach 20 goals on the season by wiring a puck past Binnington’s stick side from the high slot.

The Blues cut the gap to one goal late in the frame on a Brayden Schenn short-handed marker, but the locals retained a 3-2 lead through 40 minutes, outshooting St. Louis 13-9 in the middle frame.

Jordan Kyrou tied the game at 3-3 just shy of the seven-minute mark of period three, then threatened to give his side its first lead of the game two minutes later when sprung in alone.

Markstrom had other plans.

He stayed with his shooter, thwarting the high-danger opportunity while Andersson helped gather the loose puck from the crease to keep the score level.

At the other end, Binnington denied Flames defenceman Dennis Gilbert on a golden chance at the midway mark; Gilbert’s shot appeared destined for the top corner only to land in Binnington’s glove.

The score remained level until the final minute of regulation time.

Saad stepped across the blue line, then put a low shot goalward that appeared to take a deflection before sneaking past Markstrom off his right post and in.

Calgary outshot St. Louis 35-26 on the night; Nazem Kadri led the way for the home side with six shots on goal.

Forward Cole Schwindt played 6:45 in his Flames debut after being recalled from the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers earlier in the day.

The Lineup:

Forwards

Jonathan Huberdeau - Elias Lindholm - Yegor Sharangovich
Connor Zary - Nazem Kadri - Matt Coronato
Andrew Mangiapane - Mikael Backlund - Blake Coleman
A.J. Greer - Cole Schwindt - Adam Klapka

Defence

Noah Hanifin - Chris Tanev
MacKenzie Weegar - Rasmus Andersson
Jordan Oesterle - Dennis Gilbert

Goaltenders

Jacob Markstrom (starter)
Dan Vladar

They Said It:

The Numbers Game:

Shots: CGY 35, STL 26

Powerplay: CGY 0-3, STL 0-1

Faceoffs: CGY 52.6%, STL 47.4%

Blocked Shots: CGY 13, STL 17

Hits: CGY 16, STL 23

Takeaways: CGY 12, STL 11

5-on-5 Scoring Chances: CGY 23, STL 29

5-on-5 High-Danger Scoring Chances: CGY 10, STL 7

Up Next:

The homestand continues Thursday night when the Flames play host to the Blue Jackets at 7:00 p.m. MT. Get tickets