Trailing 5-3 with 1:08 left in regulation, the Calgary Flames broke the hearts of the Philadelphia Flyers with two goals, from Rasmus Andersson and Sean Monahan, to force extra time.
With just 35 seconds gone in the extra session, Johnny Gaudreau finished the rally with a goal for a 6-5 victory.
“There was just so much emotion,” Andersson said. “We were down two goals with 1:10 left. We managed to climb our way back into the game and win it in OT. It’s just a resilient effort from all the guys. It’s a really good feeling, especially when the fans were as into it as they were. I thought the arena was going to [explode] for a second there.”
Monahan scored to tie the game with just seven seconds left in regulation.
“That was a big win and we’ve got to keep rolling with it,” Monahan said, who had two goals on the night..
The Flames improved to 20-10-2 and lead the Pacific Division.
Sam Bennett and Mark Giordano also struck for the Flames.
“It took all 60 minutes, but it was a good effort in the third,” Gaudreau said. “We didn’t play our best hockey in the first and second, but we stuck with it and found a way to play a little bit harder in the third and get the two points.”
Mike Smith got the start but left the game after giving up four goals. He left with an apparent injury.
David Rittich made four saves in relief for the win.
Sean Couturier struck twice for the Flyers who dropped to 12-13-4.
Travis Sanheim, James van Riemsdyk and Dale Weise also scored for Philadelphia.
“The penalties set the table. We did it every way you can. We took a roughing penalty 200 feet from our net, a holding penalty, a slashing penalty. Those things set the table for it,” Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol said after the loss.
The Flyers killed five of six penalties they drew.
[WATCH: All Flyers vs. Flames highlights]
Anthony Stolarz made 35 saves in the loss.
“It’s definitely going to sting a little bit, but at the end of the day it’s a point,” Stolarz said. “I know we wanted two, but you have to move forward and you have to move on.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.