Flames Defeated By Capitals

Calgary opens trip with 7-3 loss in Washington

By Chris Wahl

CalgaryFlames.com

March 10, 2026

WASHINGTON — Call it a night of quick strikes.

The Flames scored a trio of second-period goals in a span of 2:47 to erase an early deficit, but two third-period replies by the Capitals proved decisive in a 7-3 final at Capital One Arena.

Matvei Gridin, Blake Coleman and Yegor Sharangovich found the back of the net for Calgary - Coleman and Sharangovich's goals coming on the same penalty-kill - but the hosts found a trio of tallies in the first and four in the third frame to claim both points.

See the action from Monday's tilt in D.C.

Washington acted as inhospitable hosts in the opening 20 minutes, going ahead 1-0 inside the three-minute mark on a rebound goal from Hendrix Lapierre. Tom Wilson and Connor McMichael added singles before the frame was through, giving the Capitals a 3-0 lead at the break.

But the Flames chipped away in period two, outshooting their opponents 12-6 in the period and finally at the 16:08 mark, they were rewarded. After a chance from Ryan Strome, the puck cycled back down to Olli Määtta, who pinched from the left point to the bottom of the circle before feathering a cross-crease pass to Gridin. The young Russian took the puck off his skate, then snapped a shot into the top corner to put Calgary on the board.

Gridin gets Flames on the board in D.C.

The Flames were assessed a penalty late in the period, but that only further ignited the offence. Mikael Backlund spotted Coleman leaving the zone and airmailed a pass to his longtime lineman for a short-handed breakaway. Coleman made no mistake, deking Capitals starter Logan Thompson before chipping the puck glove-side on the netminder.

Coleman converts late in second on the PK

Just over a minute later, Calgary evened the score, on the same penalty-kill to boot. Joel Farabee stole a puck in the neutral zone, strode down the left wing before finding Sharangovich in the slot, where the Belarusian made no mistake, beating Thompson stick-side for his 13th goal of the season.

Sharky gets another one on the same penalty-kill to tie game up

In the third, the Capitals atoned for their earlier powerplay malaise, though. McMichael netted his second of the contest on a man-advantage at 10:52, before Justin Sourdif added a fifth for the home side 23 seconds later.

Ethen Frank added an empty-netter with 2:46 left on the clock before Ryan Leonard scored on a breakaway in the final minute of play.

Flames forward Victor Olofsson skated 15:43 in his Calgary debut after being acquired from Colorado on Friday.