Backlund, Flames end Rangers' 7-game winning streak

CALGARY -- Mikael Backlund scored 1:28 into overtime, and the Calgary Flames ended the New York Rangers' seven-game winning streak with a 3-2 victory at Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday.

Backlund, who also had an assist, tipped in a shot by Jonathan Huberdeau from the high slot on a power play after Adam Fox was assessed a two-minute minor for high-sticking Dillon Dube 50 seconds into overtime.
"You know my shot ... there's no way that was going in," Huberdeau said. "I saw 'Backs' was wide open -- he works on that every morning skate -- so it paid off this time. That's a huge win for us."
Huberdeau had two assists, and Nazem Kadri and Andrew Mangiapane scored eight seconds apart in the opening minute for the Flames (26-19-11), who have lost four of six (2-2-2) since the All-Star break. Jacob Markstrom made 18 saves.
"Every day is a new day," Backlund said. "Every day you've got to recharge between games and come out every game with full-out energy and just leave it out on the ice. It's a [Stanley Cup] Playoff game every game for us. We can't afford to lose too many more. We have to go on a streak here and bring it every night and we'll have a really good chance to win games."

Vladimir Tarasenko and
Alexis Lafreniere
scored, and Vincent Trocheck had two assists for the Rangers (33-14-9), who extended their point streak to 10 games (8-0-2). Jaroslav Halak made 29 saves in his first loss since Dec. 3 (7-0-1).
"Obviously you want the two points and every point matters, especially [the Metropolitan] Division and [the Eastern] Conference is tough right now," Trocheck said. "It's going to come down to the wire so every point matters. At the same time, going down early like we did and getting a point out of it is respectable. We came back hard."
Tarasenko cut it to 2-1 at 16:53 of the second period when he scored from the bottom of the right face-off circle after the puck rolled off the stick of Trocheck as he went backhand-forehand in the slot.
"I think we should start better," Tarasenko said. "It's nice to win games when you're coming back, but you should play better at the start. Everybody knows that we can play better. I don't think anybody's satisfied with the result today."
Halak stopped nine shots in the third period, including a left pad save on Kadri during an odd-man rush at 7:14 and a glove save on a breakaway by Dube at 7:55.
"We hung him out to dry early," New York defenseman Ryan Lindgren said. "Some of the saves he made were unbelievable."

Lafreniere then tied it 2-2 at 12:48, tapping in his own rebound as it rolled on the goal line for his first NHL power-play goal.
Mangiapane gave Calgary a 1-0 lead 38 seconds into the first period when he split the defense, held off K'Andre Miller and scored around Halak's outstretched left pad on a backhand.
Kadri made it 2-0 at 46 seconds, scoring glove side on a one-timer after receiving a pass from Huberdeau at the top of the left circle.
"It's a good team on the other side," Huberdeau said. "We had a really good start and stuck with it. They came back, but we showed some character."
NOTES:The Flames are the first team in NHL history to score two goals in the opening minute of a game twice in the same season. Tyler Toffoli and Dube scored in the first 30 seconds Dec. 20 at the San Jose Sharks. ... Rangers forward Artemi Panarin had an assist to extend his point streak to seven games (six goals, nine assists). ... New York failed to score four or more goals for the first time in eight games. ... Flames center Elias Lindholm did not play to be with his wife for the birth of their first child. Adam Ruzicka replaced him and had two shots on goal and one blocked shot in 11:27 of ice time. … Calgary forward Jakob Pelletier had his first NHL assist.