The Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens have engaged in a battle of clubs that need good vibes. Entering Tuesday's contest at the Bell Centre, Calgary has dropped five of its last six attempts, while Montreal has lost three in a row, each time playing in questionable fashion. This one went to the visitors, as the Flames won 3-2 in overtime.
Goalkeepers Montembeault and Wolf Put on a show
Sam Montembeault and Dustin Wolf got their due tonight by stopping a bunch of opposing hitters. The Wolf were busy in the first half, as the Canadians benefited from two power plays. Gloves save with quick reflexes or pad stops extended outward to repel one-timers; no task was too great.
In the second half, the rivals battled each other with goals at 0-0. Calgary's Connor Zary earned his third mark of the young campaign in 4:20 with a spectacular bounce. A one-time effort came from the young Emil Heineman, who was battling Nazem Kadri, and the stick of Zary, who quickly tried to hit the net.
The Canadiens tied the score at 16:23 of their third power play opportunity of the evening. A puck battle along the boards on Wolf's right eventually allowed Joel Armia to feed veteran Brendan Gallagher alone in front of the net, who put the puck in the five-hole for his fifth goal of 2024-25.
Matt Coronato to the Rescue
Montreal's special teams came through again in the third. This time, it was a penalty killing unit. When the two Flames collided and fell moments after facing each other in the Montreal area, Jake Evans and Joel Armia ran for two each. Evans fed Armia, who fired a volley to make it 2-1.
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The home crowd and the Habs briefly believed Gallagher had scored to make it 3-1, but a Flames challenge to head coach Ryan Huska was ruled out for offside.
The Canadiens will cherish the moment as Calgary's Matt Coronato made a one-man effort past Montembeault with just under three minutes remaining. The teams left went to an extra session.
However, it would not last long. Coronato got the Flames going again just six seconds into overtime with a stunning arm shot that beat Montembeault over the top. The Flames erupted in joy while the Canadiens were left wondering how the game had passed through their gloves.
Next up for the Flames is a date with the Boston Bruins in Beantown on Thursday, Nov. 7. The Canadiens will hope to bounce back on a similar night in New Jersey against the Devils.
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