A game-tying goal by Nazem Kadri in the final minute of regulation and shootout goals by forward Anthony Mantha, defenseman Rasmus Andersson and Justin Kirkland gave the Calgary Flames a 4-3 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary on Tuesday.
Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic made 22 saves on 25 shots in regulation — the Penguins did not permit a shot in overtime — then allowed three goals on six shot attempts in the shootout.
The Penguins lost their third consecutive game (0-2-1) while Nedeljkovic’s record fell to 0-1-1.
Even with the unappetizing result, the Penguins suggested their play improved from their most recent games, a 6-3 road loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday and a 4-1 home loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday.
“Obviously, there’s always room to get better,” Penguins forward Bryan Rust said to media in Calgary via audio provided by the team’s media relations staff. “But we were a heck of a lot better than we were in recent games. We didn’t have huge, massive breakdowns like we did in the last (few) games.”
Andersson’s third goal of the season opened the scoring 11:48 into regulation.
Penguins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk pinched into the Flames zone to keep a puck inside the blue line, but that decision allowed Kirkland to generate a two-on-one rush through the neutral zone with Andersson. After Kirkland gained the Penguins’ blue line on the right wing, defenseman Erik Karlsson applied pressure as a hustling Grzelcyk hurried back and poke-checked Kirkland’s stick, appearing to momentarily break up a pass attempt. The puck still managed to sluggishly slide in toward the crease where Andersson darted in and swatted a forehand shot by Nedeljkovic’s glove. Kirkland and forward Ryan Lomberg had assists.
Calgary goal!
— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) October 23, 2024
Scored by Rasmus Andersson with 08:12 remaining in the 1st period.
Assisted by Justin Kirkland and Ryan Lomberg.
Calgary: 1
Pittsburgh: 0#PITvsCGY #Flames #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/Kz33u0NE9S
The Penguins tied it 1-1 at 6:31 of the second period when Rust scored his second goal during a power-play sequence.
On a puck battle in Calgary’s left corner pitting Karlsson and Evgeni Malkin against Flames forward Blake Coleman and Andersson, Karlsson emerged with the puck and dished a short-area pass to the left circle for Sidney Crosby. Surging to the net for a moment, Crosby then offloaded a forehand pass to the top of the upper right hashmark where Rust released a wrister that clunked off the near post and into the cage. Crosby and Karlsson claimed assists.
Power play goal for Pittsburgh!
— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) October 23, 2024
Scored by Bryan Rust with 13:29 remaining in the 2nd period.
Assisted by Sidney Crosby and Erik Karlsson.
Calgary: 1
Pittsburgh: 1#PITvsCGY #Flames #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/JpO2ZpgAsz
Forward Rickard Rakell gave the Penguins their first lead 2:32 into the third period.
Just after a power-play opportunity for the visitors expired, Penguins forward Kevin Hayes gained the offensive zone on the left wing but lost possession on a poke check by Flames defenseman Danil Miromanov. The puck slid to the lower left circle where Rakell recovered it, spun backward to his left and chucked a wrister toward the crease from a nearly straight angle. The puck struck off the inside of goaltender Dustin Wolf’s left skate and deflected into the crease. Hayes and Grzelcyk garnered assists.
Pittsburgh goal!
— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) October 23, 2024
Scored by Rickard Rakell with 17:28 remaining in the 3rd period.
Assisted by Kevin Hayes and Matt Grzelcyk.
Calgary: 1
Pittsburgh: 2#PITvsCGY #Flames #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/ps4XLjzcQ8
Flames defenseman MacKenzie Weegar’s third goal tied the contest 2-2 at 7:46 of the third period.
Settling a puck at the right point of the offensive zone, Miromanov slid a pass attempt to his left for Flames forward Martin Pospisil but the puck went through Pospisil’s skates. Weegar wound up accepting the puck at the opposite point. Backpedaling a bit to the near half-wall, Weeger wound up and chopped a slapper that beat Nedeljkovic’s right shoulder on the near side. A video replay appeared to show Penguins forward Cody Glass’ stick deflecting the puck after Weegar released it. The assists went to Miromanov and Coleman.
Calgary goal!
— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) October 23, 2024
Scored by MacKenzie Weegar with 12:14 remaining in the 3rd period.
Assisted by Daniil Miromanov.
Calgary: 2
Pittsburgh: 2#PITvsCGY #Flames #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/hDw3HXWlpb
Penguins forward Noel Acciari’s first goal restored a lead for the Penguins at 13:38 of the third frame.
From the left point of the offensive zone, Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson chucked a wrister wide of the cage on the near side. The rebound hit off the end boards and was jabbed away by Wolf. The puck slid to the goal line to the left of the net where Glass claimed possession, spun to his right and shuffled a forehand shot to the crease. After Wolf made the initial save with his blocker, Acciari fended off Andersson and fired a wrister that struck off Flames defenseman Kevin Bahl’s stick and fluttered into the cage. Assists went to Glass and Pettersson.
Pittsburgh goal!
— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) October 23, 2024
Scored by Noel Acciari with 06:20 remaining in the 3rd period.
Assisted by Cody Glass and Marcus Pettersson.
Calgary: 2
Pittsburgh: 3#PITvsCGY #Flames #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/Kr2h01fZb0
The Flames persisted and tied the game, 3-3, at 19:17 of the third with Kadri’s third goal.
With Wolf pulled for an extra attacker, Andersson received a pass at the right point of the Penguins’ zone and clapped a one-timer that was blocked by Acciari, kneeling at the lower rim of the left circle. Kadri was all over the rebound and immediately shuffled a forehand shot behind Nedeljkovic’s left leg. Coleman and Andersson had assists.
Calgary goal!
— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) October 23, 2024
Scored by Nazem Kadri with 00:43 remaining in the 3rd period.
Assisted by Blake Coleman and Rasmus Andersson.
Calgary: 3
Pittsburgh: 3#PITvsCGY #Flames #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/2SLWMYm4A3
“A couple bounces here and there,” Acciari said in reference to the pair of tying goals the Penguins yielded in the third period. “I think one was off (Glass’s) stick. Just unfortunate there. That last one, I blocked it. It just dropped right down. We were better, I think, tonight than previous nights. We’ve got to build off of that. But definitely got to be stronger and keep those out of the net.”
In the shootout, Rakell and Rust scored for the Penguins while Crosby, defenseman Kris Letang as well as forward Lars Eller and Malkin did not convert on their attempts.
Notes:
• Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry was scratched for the second consecutive game. Rookie Joel Blomqvist dressed as the backup.
• Penguins forward Valtteri Puustinen and defenseman Ryan Shea were also scratched.
• Penguins forward Jesse Puljujarvi had a four-game scoring streak (one goal, three assists) snapped.
• Rakell (115 points) surpassed forwards Pete Mahovlich and Terry Ruskowski (114) each for 78th place on the franchise’s career scoring list.
• In 22 career games against the Flames, Crosby now has 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists).
• Mantha appeared in his 500th career game.
