Flames 'Storm' Back

Calgary surges past Carolina with third-period rally

By Ty Pilson

CalgaryFlames.com

December 08, 2023

The Flames put on their Raleigh caps and made good - yet again.

Down 2-0 in th third period, the homeside scored three straight to beat the visiting Hurricanes 3-2 at the Scotiabank Saddledome Thursday night.

It was their sixth final-frame comeback of the season.

Rasmus Andersson, Connor Zary and Blake Coleman scored for the Flames, while Dustin Wolf - who got a raucous cheer from the C of Red when he was announced prior to the tilt - made his third NHL start and finished the night with 28 saves.

Highlights, interviews and analysis from the game

Trailing by a pair, Andersson skated in from the point and swept home a rebound with a lovely backhand at 5:42 for his fourth goal of the season.

Then, less than a minute-and-half later, Adam Ruzicka's shot squeaked through Pyotr Kochetkov's five-hole but stalled in the bluepaint behind him, Zary there to poke it home as he got smashed into the crossbar after for his efforts.

Coleman - who had been sniffing around the net all night and finished with two points - wired a wrister at 11:44 while shorthanded to give the homeside their first lead in what stood up as the game-winner.

There was more drama as the 'Canes appeared to tie it up off a faceoff with 4:55 to play in the game, but Calgary challenged citing goalie interference on Wolf - Martin Necas' stick pushing the Calgary goalie - and and after review, the officials agreed and waived it off.

Blueliner powers in and sweeps backhander home

Zary pokes home pucking sitting in blue paint to tie game

Coleman pots the winner against Carolina

Wolf was busy early, his best stop coming on a deflection by Teuvo Teravainen right in the slot as the Hurricanes came out with pressure and purpose after falling 6-1 to the Oilers just 24 hours earlier.

The 'Canes would beat him on their fifth shot of the outing at 2:10 – the Flames had yet to record one on net at that point – when Stefan Noesen tipped a point shot from Jack Drury shortside after a faceoff win in the Flames zone.

The Flames had the first PP of the game just over six minutes in. Coleman had the best look with time expiring on the advantage, taking a pass from A.J. Greer while he stood alone at the top of the blue paint, going forehand and then backhand but Kochetkov flashed the leather to rob him.

Not long after, Carolina doubled their lead when Michael Bunting scored on another tip at 8:48.

Nazem Kadri burst in with a chance that Kochetkov stopped later in the frame, but Kadri got the rebound and feed linemate Zary in tight but he, too, was denied.

Kochetkov denied Kadri just seconds into the second period, while Wolf came up with another gem shy of the five-minute mark when he stopped a cross-ice one-timer from Jordan Staal.

Before the period was over, Coleman took a pass from MacKenzie Weegar and turned and fired from prime scoring position but again it was Kochetkov there to deny the Flames.