The Calgary Flames finally found some offensive rhythm, but it still wasn’t enough to cool off a surging Anaheim Ducks squad. Calgary dropped a 4-3 overtime decision, grabbing a point but missing out on a much-needed win.
Let’s start with the good news: this was one of the best all-around performances the Flames have put together in the last couple of weeks. After a stretch of three straight games with just a single goal, the offense came alive early.
Jonathan Huberdeau opened the scoring with a gritty net-front goal-yes, that Huberdeau, crashing the crease like a power forward. Then came a milestone moment: Hunter Brzustewicz netted his first NHL goal, thanks to a fortunate bounce.
It was the kind of spark the Flames have been searching for.
Matt Coronato added a power play goal later-a textbook tap-in that gave Calgary a 3-1 lead-but the Ducks kept coming. Anaheim turned up the pressure midway through the game, slowly tilting the ice in their favor and eventually forcing overtime, where they sealed the comeback.
The advanced numbers back up what we saw on the ice. Calgary controlled the puck more often than not (53.63 CF%), created a solid share of scoring chances (51.27 SCF%), and edged out the Ducks in expected goals (52.35 xGF%). But when it came to high-danger chances, Anaheim had the edge (44.24 HDCF% for Calgary), and that proved to be the difference.
Coronato Finds His Groove Again
Matt Coronato led the way in terms of puck possession, posting a standout 78.03 CF%. That’s the kind of number you expect from a player who’s feeling it-and Coronato looked like the guy who was lighting it up earlier in the season.
He wasn’t deferring, he was attacking, shooting, and making things happen. Players with the potential to score 30 in this league need a little swagger, and Coronato showed flashes of that confidence again.
Another player who made a big impact? Martin Pospisil.
His return brought a noticeable jolt of speed and physicality. With a 67.23 CF%, he was constantly involved, constantly disruptive.
His ability to force defenders to make quicker decisions-and sometimes second-guess those decisions-makes him a sneaky valuable piece in Calgary’s lineup.
Huberdeau Steps Up
Jonathan Huberdeau had one of his best games in recent memory. He posted strong numbers in both scoring chance share (58.71 SCF%) and high-danger chances (60.98 HDCF%), generating five high-danger opportunities himself.
That’s the kind of assertive play the Flames have been waiting to see from him. His goal came from going to the dirty areas, something that hasn’t always been his calling card but certainly paid off here.
On the flip side, Joel Hanley struggled. He was caught out of position a few times and had trouble along the boards-something that stood out precisely because he’s usually the kind of player you don’t notice, which is often a good thing for a depth defenseman. This wasn’t his sharpest outing.
Backlund Still Driving Play
Mikael Backlund continues to be the engine of this team’s forward group. His 70.11 xGF% led all Flames skaters, and he looked fully in control at both ends of the ice. He’s not the guy who’s going to rack up 30 goals or 70 points, but when it comes to driving play and tilting the ice, he’s still as reliable as ever.
What’s more impressive is that he’s doing it without Blake Coleman, who’s been a key part of that line’s success. Backlund’s showing he can still be effective without his usual running mate, though there’s no question the Flames would welcome Coleman’s return with open arms-especially if he’s sticking around through the trade deadline.
In the Crease
Dustin Wolf faced a tough night behind a defense that left him exposed too often. All three of Anaheim’s regulation goals came off breakdowns in coverage-moments where the Flames simply lost their assignments and the Ducks made them pay.
It’s hard to pin that on Wolf, though you’d always love a big save in a key moment. Still, the story here is more about the defensive lapses than the goaltending.
Unfortunately, this might just be the reality for the Flames the rest of the way. The goaltending has been solid, but not quite strong enough to consistently cover for defensive breakdowns-and those breakdowns have been far too frequent.
Final Thoughts
The Flames played well enough to win, and in many ways, this was a step in the right direction. The offense showed signs of life, several key players stepped up, and they battled hard against a Ducks team that’s been rolling. But in the end, it was another game where the little things-missed coverages, lost battles, and momentum swings-proved costly.
They’ll take the point, but they’ll know they left one on the table. And with the playoff picture tightening, every point matters.
Three Stars
- Matt Coronato - Back to being a threat every time he touched the puck.
- Mikael Backlund - Quietly dominant in all the right ways.
- Jonathan Huberdeau - Showed some bite and got rewarded for going to the tough areas.
Calgary’s next challenge? Turning strong efforts like this into two points instead of one.