In Denver, Johnny Gaudreau hit for the game-winner with 37 seconds gone in extra time on Saturday night to give the Calgary Flames a 4-3 win over the Avalanche.
“I thought we did a pretty good job containing them 3-on-3 when they were in our zone,” Gaudreau said. “‘Lindy’ made a great play. I kind of took off and got behind their forward there and had a little break.
“I kind of made a quick move to my backhand, forehand and shot low glove. I haven’t really seen this goalie too, too much. I kind of got a quick shot off and found the back of the net.”
Dan Vladar made 33 saves in the Flames win.
“They scored early and then we scored. They scored, we scored,” Calgary coach Darryl Sutter said. “Tough team. Tough rink. They do a lot of damage off the rush.”
Elias Lindholm hit for a pair of goals in regulation for Calgary.
“It’s huge. Two good teams,” Lindholm said. “Obviously they have a real good record at home, and we know it’s going to be a tough one and we came out on top. It was a good test for us and a good game.”
The Flames improved to 33-14-7.
“They’re a really good test for our team, I think that’s what our team needs,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “That was playoff-type hockey.”
Gabriel Landeskog and Andre Burakovsky scored for Colorado, Landeskig scored 42 seconds into the game.
“Right away they scored, and we got one pretty much the shift after,” Lindholm said. “It was a solid game. It was a good game.”
Calgary’s Erik Gudbranson gave the Flames a 3-2 lead in the second period.
“Good hockey game, for sure,” Landeskog said. “Two good teams and it comes down to overtime and comes on a breakaway. Didn’t go our way.”
Nathan MacKinnon tied the game just past the midway point of the period to send the game to the third period, tied, 3-3.
Darcy Kuemper got the start for the Avs, but yielded three goals in regulation before getting the hook. He made 12 saves
“I didn’t feel like Darcy was real sharp,” Bednar said. “At that point we needed a little bit of something.”
Pavel Francouz made 21 saves after taking the ice in the middle frame.
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