Overtime Theatrics Once Again as MacKenzie Weegar, Nazem Kadri Play Hero

Calgary General Manager sent an earthquake through the hockey world on Thursday by shipping towering defenseman Nikita Zadorov to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2024 fifth round draft pick and a 2026 third round draft pick. With a game in two and a half hours and no room to spare in a five-team Wildcard race, The Calgary Flames had no choice but to press on. 

The game kicked off with a high-tempo first period full of ambitious passing by the Flames. Rick Bowness’ Dallas Stars kept pace matching Calgary’s aggressive transition game. 

The scoring opened with Thomas Harley pinching in on a low collapse by the Flames. The 22-year-old managed to get a clean shot off over Jacob Markstrom’s shoulder for the first goal of the game. 

Three minutes later, Chris Tanev skated the puck in low and behind the net. The recipient of 12 stitches on Monday threw a centering pass to the middle that bounced off Ryan Suter’s skate and in.  

Seven and a half minutes later, Noah Hanifin potted a Mikael Backlund rebound to put the Flames up 2-1. The play started on a cross-slot Jonathan Huberdeau pass to the Flames captain.  

With a minute remaining in the first period, Mason Marchment picked the puck up off of a blocked Tyler Seguin shot and put it past Markstrom’s blocker-side to once again bring the game to an even score.  

The Flames brought a more protected approach to the second period. By a commercial break with 7:04 remaining in the stanza, the Flames led 11-1 on the period in shots. The following seven minutes of regulation featured only one Calgary shot on net.  

Two minutes into the third, Chris Tanev hauled down a breaking Mason Marchment. The Dallas power forward went low-glove on Markstrom for Dallas’ third goal of the game. 

With nine low-danger shots on net and trailing by one with five minutes to go, Jonathan Huberdeau seamed a saucer pass over to Noah Hanifin. Hanifin’s shot was tipped by Mikael Backlund for what appeared to be the game-tying goal. Moments later, Peter DeBoer summoned the referee staff and challenged the goal for a Backlund hand pass. After a brief review, the play was deemed a “no goal.” 

Hope was seemingly lost when MacKenzie Weegar picked up a puck that had nearly crossed the blue line and shot a quick loft at the net. The puck passed over two players and past goaltender Scott Wedgewood. The game was officially tied with two minutes and twenty-one seconds left in regulation.  

Off to overtime both teams went.  

It didn’t take long. Kadri sent the puck back to goaltender Jacob Markstrom in order to cross all three zones with speed. On a quick sequence driving the net, Kadri picked up a low glove Huberdeau rebound and guided the puck into the net for Calgary’s second overtime victory in two games.