Sharangovich scores SO winner as Flames rally past Avalanche
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DENVER (AP) — Yegor Sharangovich scored the only goal in the shootout and the Calgary Flames rallied from two goals down to beat Colorado 3-2 on Monday night, snapping a seven-game skid against the Avalanche.
Trailing 2-0 in the third period, Ryan Lomberg and Adam Klapka scored in a 32-second span to tie the score with 8 1/2 minutes left. It set up the winner by Sharangovich, who entered the game 0-for-4 in shootouts this season.
“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 had 28 saves through overtime, and stopped all three shots in the shootout.
The win kept the Flames’ flickering playoff hopes afloat. They’re five points out of a wild-card spot with nine games remaining.
“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 for the Avalanche, who’ve dropped two straight at home for the first time since January. Colorado suffered a 2-1 loss to St. Louis on Saturday that ended the team’s 11-game home win streak.
Scott Wedgewood made 25 saves.
TAKEAWAYS
Flames: Calgary beat the Avalanche for the first time since Oct. 13, 2022.
Avalanche: Nathan MacKinnon assisted on Makar’s first-period goal to run his home point streak to 25 games.
KEY MOMENT
The Flames killed off a roughing penalty to Blake Coleman to start the third to keep it a two-goal game.
KEY STAT
Makar has 28 goals this season. He's two away from becoming the first NHL defenceman to notch a 30-goal season since Mike Green of Washington in 2008-09. Only eight defencemen in NHL history have reached the 30-goal mark — Bobby Orr (five times), Paul Coffey (four), Denis Potvin (three), Ray Bourque, Green, Kevin Hatcher, Phil Housley and Doug Wilson.
UP NEXT
Flames: Visit the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday.
Avalanche: Visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL