In Calgary, the Flames let a third period 3-2 lead over the Boston Bruins slip away on Tuesday night.
Pavel Zacha tied the game, 3-3, at 14:07 of the third period to force extra time.
In the extra session, Charlie McAvoy hit for the game-winner with five seconds left in the session to give the Bruins a 4-3 win.
“When I came in here (to the dressing room) I asked how much time was left because it was such a heads-up play by ‘Bergy’ to pass that puck to me,” McAvoy said. “In a situation like that, sometimes you’re thinking about the clock, but he was able to make the extra pass there.”
Linus Ullmark made 54 saves in the Bruins win, a career high for him.
“What a game by [Ullmark]. What a game by him,” Boston’s Charlie McAvoy said. “The shots were obviously a lot to a little there, and he kept us in the game all night. He gave us a chance to ultimately get a win at the end like he has all season long. Running out of stuff to say about him. It’s just amazing. Feel very fortunate to play in front of him.”
Dmitry Orlov scored a pair of goals in the first period to give the Bruins a 2-0 ldad.
“At this point in the year we’re scrambling for our lives,” Calgary defenseman Nikita Zadorov said. “We’re still fighting. We’re going to fight until the end. It’s a grown man league … you can’t feel sorry for yourself. You just got to go out there and play hockey and compete and put all your effort into it.”
Boston moved to 47-8-5.
“It’s a process, there’s no doubt,” Boston defenseman Hampus Lindholm said. “We always know we have a chance to win the hockey game. It’s not always pretty. It doesn’t always go your way. This was one of those nights. Linus played big for us. Kept us in it. We can come out and get a win for him in the end. For us all in here it shows a lot of character.”
The Flames rallied to take a 3-2 lead on three straight strikes.
Blake Coleman scored 67 seconds into the middle frame to get Calgary within one at 2-1.
Calgary pulled ahead, 3-2, on strikes from Dillon Dube and Jonathan Huberdeau
“We stuck with it,” Huberdeau said. “I think we were playing well. We deserved to come back in this game, which we did. We just have to (stick with it). I think it’s happened too many times this year (trailing in the third period). That’s the kind of stuff we need to figure out.”
The Flames dropped to 27-21-13.
“In games likes these especially, there’s a lot of emotion, fatigue,” McAvoy said. “You’re up 2-1 and it’s emotional. You know you’re not playing well and kind of hanging on a little bit. Then it’s 2-2, then it’s 3-2, and we still find a way to come back like we have all year. You can take a lot of confidence from games like those.”
Dan Vladar got the start for the Flames but was given the hook in the first intermission after surrendering two goals in the opening frame while making just three saves.
Jacob Markstrom made 13 saves in relief.
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