Flames Drop Decision In Denver

Calgary settles for weekend split after 5-2 setback to Avalanche

By Chris Wahl

CalgaryFlames.com

November 01, 2026

DENVER — A three-goal second period helped pace the host Avalanche to a 5-2 victory over the Flames Saturday at Ball Arena, forcing Calgary to settle for a weekend split.

Joel Farabee and Martin Pospisil scored for the visitors - playing their third game in four nights - as the Flames dropped the first chapter in their three-game road trip.

See all the action from Saturday night's Halloween tilt in Denver

Highway Robbery:

Matt Coronato had the tying goal on his stick, as he and Joel Farabee raced to beat the clock on a 2-on-1 rush at the end of the first period.

Farabee's first pass across was blocked, but he stuck to it, and feathered the puck across the crease onto Coronato's tape at the bottom of the right circle, allowing his linemate to fire the disc toward the empty net.

But at the last possible moment, Mackenzie Blackwood's glove hand flashed out of nowhere, denying Coronato his fourth goal of the campaign and keeping the scoreline at 1-0 in favour of the Avalanche through 20 minutes.

The Turning Point:

After Coronato's chance, the Flames had another glorious opportunity off the opening face-off of the second period, when Mikael Backlund spun a pass to Farabee in the low slot only to have it denied by Blackwood.

Fourty-five seconds later, Colorado got a powerplay opportunity, and they cashed in through Martin Necas at the 2:37 mark of the middle stanza, the homeside adding two more tallies before the midway mark of period two to extend their lead to 4-0.

The Goals:

Farabee and Pospisil provided the Calgary offence Saturday, Farabee's goal coming at 10:50 of the second period after some good work to win his own rebound in traffic in front of the Avalanche net, depositing a rebound via the backhand for his fifth tally of the campaign.

Pospisil made it a 4-2 game 1:59 into period three after snapping a one-timer past Blackwood from the bottom of the right circle, a goal made possible by a nifty cross-crease feed from linemate Ryan Strome.

Pospisil converts pass from Strome after forced turnover

Ice Chips:

Arsenii Sergeev made his second career NHL start for the Flames Saturday, making 29 stops two nights after a 36-save performance in the AHL for the Calgary Wranglers ... Farabee now has five goals in his last six games ... Backlund led the Flames with five shots on goal, while Pospisil and Kevin Bahl each had five hits.