Flames rally in 3rd, defeat Avalanche in shootout

DENVER -- Ryan Lomberg and Adam Klapka scored 32 seconds apart in the third period for the Calgary Flames, who rallied for a 3-2 shootout win against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on Monday.

“I think we got a lot of energy from our fourth line tonight. They scored two huge goals,” Calgary coach Ryan Huska said. “They were the difference-maker, and I also think our goaltender was really good for us as well tonight.”

Dan Vladar made 28 saves, and Yegor Sharangovich scored the only goal in the shootout for the Flames (35-26-12), who had lost two straight but are 5-1-1 in their past seven games.

Calgary moved five points behind the St. Louis Blues for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference. The Flames have two games in hand.

“Through my four-year career, I think we only won here once, so it's nice to finally beat those guys,” Vladar said. “Obviously, they are a really good team, but so proud of this group, how we responded in the third period.

“That's just our mentality, believe, believe, believe. That's all we got. We might not have the strongest team on paper, but I think that we got the strongest team deep inside in our hearts.”

Cale Makar and Logan O'Connor scored, and Nathan MacKinnon had an assist to extend his home point streak to 25 games for the Avalanche (45-26-4), who have lost two straight. Scott Wedgewood made 25 saves.

Colorado fell eight points behind the Dallas Stars, who defeated the Seattle Kraken 3-1 on Monday, for second place in the Central Division.

“I didn't think we played very well tonight. I didn't love our effort at times,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “I didn’t like the defending detail at times during the game, and then we had trouble putting the puck in the net a little bit again tonight. So, not real pleased with the way we played tonight."

Lomberg cut it to 2-1 at 10:57 of the third period. Wedgewood partially stopped Klapka’s attempt at the right post, but the puck trickled into the crease, where Lomberg jammed it in.

It was Lomberg's second goal in 71 games this season. His first came on Dec. 17.

“Obviously, it feels great to contribute offensively. It feels like it's been a little while,” Lomberg said. “We know what we're capable of. We know if we play the right way we can beat anybody any night. So, it's just about having that internal confidence.

“Coming back down two against a good team in their building, it was a huge win and something we can build off of moving forward here.”

Klapka tied it 2-2 at 11:29. Lomberg skated in on a rush and passed to Klapka, who beat Wedgewood short side over his blocker with a wrist shot from the left circle.

"I just finished the guy next to our bench and just [saw] that [Lomberg is] going by himself on the one guy,” Klapka said. “So, I just tried to skate as fast as I can, and [he] just gave it to me and [I] just put it on the net. Simple stuff, and it went in.

“We just tried to do what like we're supposed to. Just play simple, go to the net, and it gives us some opportunity to score, and we used it. And I'm happy that we won the game.”

Makar gave Colorado a 1-0 lead at 16:31 of the first period. He faked a shot in the left circle to get MacKenzie Weegar to go down before moving toward the slot and scoring glove side through a screen.

MacKinnon, who had the primary assist on the play, has 42 points (16 goals, 26 assists) during his home point streak.

“He finds a way to chip in and help create offensively,” Bednar said of MacKinnon. “I didn't think they had a great night tonight ... but I think that's what great players do. They find a way to chip away, and when they get opportunities, they tend to finish them off. And he's done that consistently.”

O’Connor extended the lead to 2-0 at 7:59 of the second period. He skated toward the net along the goal line, moved around Brayden Pachal, who was playing the pass, and waited out Vladar before tucking a shot between the goalie's left pad and the right post.

“In the third, up two, in a good spot, we need to just turn it up a little bit more and kind of put them away. We'd been in control most of the game,” Avalanche forward Brock Nelson said. “Can't have that now, especially this time of year. Closing out games and winning games, that's what it's all about. So, we know we're capable of closing out, too, with the way we can play. So, it's just about energy, focus.”

NOTES: Makar’s goal was his 28th of the season, tying his NHL career high he set in 2021-22. ... MacKinnon is the 12th player in NHL history to have three consecutive seasons with at least 110 points. The only other active player on the list is Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers. ... MacKinnon also became the first player in Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques history to have consecutive seasons with at least 80 assists.