Flames Build Early Lead, Hold Off Islanders for 4-2 Win at the Saddledome
Back on home ice after a tough five-game road swing, the Calgary Flames got exactly the kind of performance they needed - fast start, solid goaltending, and just enough finish to hold off a late push from the New York Islanders.
Fueled by a four-goal outburst through the first 32 minutes of play, Calgary held on for a 4-2 win on Saturday afternoon at the Scotiabank Saddledome. It wasn’t perfect - especially early - but it was effective, and it snapped the Flames back into the win column after a 2-3-0 road trip.
First Period: Survive and Strike
Let’s be real - the Flames were outplayed in the opening frame. The Islanders controlled the puck, dominated the shot clock, and racked up high-danger chances at five-on-five. But Dustin Wolf stood tall in net, turning aside everything that came his way, and Calgary made the most of its limited offensive zone time.
Midway through the period, the Flames capitalized on a slick bit of puck movement. Rasmus Andersson, jumping into the play, found Yegor Sharangovich wide open in the slot. The forward didn’t miss, ripping one past former Flame David Rittich to open the scoring.
Despite being outshot 10-4 and out-chanced 12-1 at even strength - including a lopsided 7-0 margin in high-danger looks - Calgary took a 1-0 lead into the intermission. Sometimes, it’s not about how you start - it’s about what you do with your chances.
Second Period: Flames Find Their Groove
The second period was where Calgary really took control.
Just over three minutes in, Adam Klapka got a piece of a Kevin Bahl point shot, redirecting it past Rittich to make it 2-0. It was the payoff to a strong cycle shift, and a sign the Flames were starting to assert themselves more in the offensive zone.
Then came a momentum-shifting stretch midway through the frame. After a brief spell of being hemmed in their own end, Calgary’s fourth line turned defense into offense off an Islanders turnover. Ryan Lomberg made a heads-up play to spring Justin Kirkland, who buried it for his first of the season and a 3-0 lead.
Less than two minutes later, the Flames struck again - this time off the rush. Yan Kuznetsov, jumping into the play from the blue line, picked the top corner with a laser from the left point. Just like that, it was 4-0.
To their credit, the Islanders didn’t fold. Jean-Gabriel Pageau found space in the Flames’ zone and sniped one over Wolf’s shoulder to get New York on the board. The puck actually got stuck in the netting, which caused a moment of confusion before the officials confirmed the goal on review.
Still, Calgary carried a 4-1 lead into the third, and with the way Wolf was playing, that cushion felt pretty comfortable.
Third Period: Hold the Line
With a three-goal lead, the Flames didn’t need to chase offense in the third - and they didn’t. They rolled their lines, kept things mostly clean in their own end, and trusted their goalie to handle the rest.
The Islanders, however, weren’t ready to go quietly. Head coach Patrick Roy pulled Rittich for the extra attacker with more than eight minutes left - an aggressive move that nearly backfired when Wolf just missed scoring on the empty net with a long-range bid.
Anders Lee gave New York a bit of life with a goal that just squeaked through Wolf’s pad with under three minutes to go, cutting the lead to 4-2. The Isles even got a late power play and a brief six-on-four advantage, but Calgary held firm and closed it out.
Why Calgary Won
This was a game about timely execution. The Flames weathered a tough first period, then took full advantage of their chances in the second. They didn’t dominate possession, but they were opportunistic - and that made all the difference.
Wolf was sharp when he needed to be, the defense tightened up after a shaky start, and the offense got contributions up and down the lineup. It wasn’t flashy, but it was the kind of complete team effort that’s been missing at times this season.
Turning Point
The back-to-back goals from Kirkland and Kuznetsov in the second period - just 1:59 apart - turned a manageable 2-0 deficit for the Islanders into a steep 4-0 hill. That quick strike combo took the wind out of New York’s sails and gave the Flames the breathing room they needed to see this one through.
Red Warrior
Rasmus Andersson gets the nod here. He logged big minutes, made a smart play to set up the opening goal, and brought energy in all three zones. He looked like a leader out there - and on a team still finding its identity, that matters.
Honorable mention to Kevin Bahl, who was quietly excellent. He was active in the offensive zone, steady in his own end, and picked up an assist on the Klapka goal.
Roster Notes
The Flames made a few moves ahead of puck drop. Zayne Parekh was sent to the Wranglers on a conditioning loan, and William Stromgren was also reassigned. In their place, Matvei Gridin got the call-up and slotted into the second line, which bumped Klapka to the fourth line and Dryden Hunt to the press box.
Up Next
The Flames (21-23-4) are back at it Monday night when they host the New Jersey Devils. If they can bottle up the second period from this game and bring it again, they’ll give themselves a good shot at building some momentum.
For now, though, this was a much-needed win - and a reminder that when Calgary plays with structure and confidence, they can hang with anyone.