Wash, Rinse, Repeat

Flames kick off six-game trip with 3-1 win

By Chris Wahl

CalgaryFlames.com

February 26, 2025

THAT was hard-working hockey.

And the perfect way to start a season-long, six-game roadie, as the Flames rode the strength of two first-period goals, and some exemplary team defence to knock off the Eastern Conference-leading Capitals 3-1 in D.C.

Martin Pospisil, Matt Coronato and Jonathan Huberdeau counted the Calgary markers, while Dan Vladar made 26 saves in his first start in more than three weeks.

Vladar had all the help he needed in front of him, too.

The Flames blocked 30 shots - eight by defenceman Rasmus Andersson alone - and outhit the Capitals 27-20 to improve to 2-0-0 since the NHL returned from its two-week 4 Nations break.

See all the highlights from big 3-1 victory against Capitals

The first period was about as picture-perfect as the Flames could have drawn it up.

They outshot their hosts 14-5, and took a well-deserved 2-0 lead into the break.

The scoring started with just over eight minutes left on the clock, and for the second straight game, Calgary's fourth line left its mark.

Pospisil won a puck battle in the right corner, then swung it around to Ilya Solovyov, who released a low shot goalward on his first touch on the left side.

The rebound caromed back to Pospisil, who had swung around to the right circle, then caromed back into the yawning cage off the Slovak forward's skate.

Pospisil opens the scoring against the Caps

The second goal was a bit more conventional, but also the product of persistence.

After having an odd-man rush go awry earlier in his shift, Coronato pounced on a clearing attempt in neutral ice.

At the end of his shift, he found just enough gas in the tank to stride into the Washington zone and unleash a snapshot that zipped into the top corner over Capitals goalie Logan Thompson's glove hand.

Coronato with an absolutely filthy shot to cash in

If period one was a story of offence, period two was a tale of preventing it.

Vladar turned aside all 12 shots that came his way in the middle stanza, as he and his Flames teammates stymied the Capitals on opportunity after opportunity over a spell that included four man-advantage minutes for the home side.

The Calgary netminder got in front of a Tom Wilson tip, then fought off the rebound through heavy traffic, then a couple of minutes later extended his blocker hand to the right - while sliding to the left - to deny Connor McMichael a goal on his effort from the right circle.

The intensity picked up physically, too. Joel Hanley - the Flames hero from two nights ago - provided an exclamation point four minutes in, when he stepped up in neutral ice and dumped Washington winger Taylor Raddysh into the Calgary bench.

See team's boisterous reaction to Monday's starting lineup

Alexander Ovechkin - closing in on the league's all-time goals record - got the Capitals on the board 4:52 into period three, one-timing a puck from his familiar spot in the left circle to cut the deficit to 2-1, and cut his personal deficit to 12 behind Wayne Gretzky's 895 career markers.

But Calgary kept defending.

They kept working.

And Vladar kept turning in timely saves, his toughest coming off a tip from former Flame Andrew Mangiapane from in tight at the midway mark.

And all that defending paid off with some insurance with 4:28 to play.

Nazem Kadri grabbed the disc behind the Washington net on a failed clearing attempt, then cut in front, spinning to his backhand at the left post.

From there, the puck skipped on over to Huberdeau, who slammed home his team-leading 22nd of the year to make the score 3-1 for the visitors.