Flames Drop Shootout Decision To Jets

They had more pace.

They had more crispness.

But in the end, the evening belonged to the Winnipeg Jets, who rallied from a third-period deficit to nip the Flames 5-4 in a shootout in the preseason finale at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Nazem Kadri scored a pair of goals for the home side, while Matvei Gridin and Joel Hanley chipped in with singles, while Kevin Bahl and Adam Klapka each had two helpers on the night.

On the opening goal, Kadri was the benefactor of some good work down low by linemates Joel Farabee and Klapka, who spun from behind the net and floated a perfect backhand saucer pass to Kadri’s tape at the top of the blue paint, allowing the veteran centre to tap in his first goal of the preseason.

Then, it was Gridin’s turn. A point shot was slowed by the stick of Jets defenceman Haydn Fleury on its way to the net and there, waiting in open space was Gridin, who grabbed the disc, turned and tucked a backhander five-hole on Connor Hellebuyck to give the locals a 2-0 lead before the game was 12 minutes old.

Fleury got one back for the visitors but Calgary’s offensive outburst continued with just under three minutes left when Hanley’s long-range wrister evaded a would-be shot-blocker and sailed over Hellebuyck’s right shoulder and into the net.

Kadri was the benefactor of more crisp puck play in the second period. On an odd-man rush, he found the trailer in Bahl who, seeing Kadri wide open in the right circle, immediately returned the puck on a quick give-and-go, allowing the Flames’ leading goal-getter from a season ago time and space to deposit the disc into the yawning cage.

Gustav Nyquist pegged one back for Winnipeg on a rebound at 6:14, but when Calgary needed a stop, they got one from Wolf, his best of the frame coming at the end of an extended spell of defensive play when he coolly turned aside a Mark Scheifele effort after the Jets star snuck down the left side and drove the net.

Winnipeg forced extra time with a pair of third-period markers, one from in tight by Alex Iafallo, while the equalizer caromed off Parker Ford with 7:03 left in regulation time.

Wolf was forced into a pair of big stops in the extra session off Jets blueliner Neal Pionk, the second coming after the Winnipeg defender spun into the slot with the puck before firing it at the Calgary netminder's blocker hand.

Justin Kirkland and Rasmus Andersson tallied for the Flames in the shootout - Kirkland with his signature snapshot, Andersson a five-hole tuck that slipped through Hellebuyck's wickets.

But Tanner Pearson's goal in the seventh round of the penalty-shot session stood up as the decider.

They Said It:

The Numbers Game:

Shots: CGY 29, WPG 35

Powerplay: CGY 0-5, WPG 0-3

Faceoffs: CGY 55.4%, WPG 44.6%

Hits: CGY 17, WPG 35

Blocked shots: CGY 17, WPG 20

Up Next:

The 2025-26 regular season kicks off with a pair of road games against Western Canadian rivals. Calgary will open the campaign in Edmonton Oct. 8 before visiting Vancouver Oct. 9. The home-opener is Oct. 11 when the Flames host the Blues at 2 p.m. CLICK FOR TICKETS