SEATTLE — Jonathan Huberdeau scored the go-ahead goal with 8:00 left in the third period to help the Calgary Flames to a 3-2 win against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on Wednesday.
Huberdeau put Calgary in front after Rasmus Andersson‘s wrist shot from the right point was deflected before it reached the net. Huberdeau collected the puck between the face-off circles, spun and fired a wrist shot past Philipp Grubauer to make it 3-2.
The Flames forward has seven goals in 34 games this season after scoring 30 for the Florida Panthers in 2021-22.
“[Huberdeau’s] been sniping me and [Jacob Markstrom] in practice,” Calgary goalie Dan Vladar said. “So, it was just a matter of time before he was going to score, and hopefully he’s just going to keep going because I know he’s been doing the right things and he’s just an awesome guy who works hard.”
Video: CGY@SEA: Huberdeau puts Flames in front 3-2 in 3rd
Nazem Kadri had a goal and an assist, and Andersson had two assists for the Flames (17-13-7), who lost 2-1 to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. Vladar made 29 saves.
“We didn’t play well the first 40 minutes of the game,” Andersson said. “We talked in here that we had to have a good third. We had a couple looks, they had a couple looks, and we managed to get the third one. Then we just battled through the rest of the game, and we managed to get two huge points for the team.”
Grubauer made 41 saves, and Jordan Eberle had two assists for the Kraken (18-11-4), who were outshot 44-31 in their second straight loss (0-1-1).
“This team puts a lot of pucks to the net, so we didn’t give up a lot of opportunities in the first two periods,” Seattle coach Dave Hakstol said. “We gave up a little bit too much in the third. I look at opportunities, we generated a lot of real good opportunities 5-on-5 in the first two periods of the game, the first half of the game in particular. And Then in the third period, we gave up a little bit too much again, because we spent too much time in our defensive zone.
“So, I’m not worried about the number of shots. Different teams play different ways. These guys put a lot of pucks to the net from all over the place.”
Video: CGY@SEA: Donato knots the game 1-1 in the 1st
Tyler Toffoli gave Calgary a 1-0 lead at 6:22 of the first period when he jammed in a loose puck at the edge of the crease. It was his 15th goal of the season.
Ryan Donato tied it 1-1 at 18:45, scoring on his own rebound after his one-timer from the slot was stopped.
Jamie Oleksiak gave the Kraken a 2-1 lead with a wrist shot from the left circle at 1:14 of the second period.
“I think the boys worked hard; I think maybe we just didn’t connect on a few plays there and couldn’t bury a couple goals,” Oleksiak said. “So, I think we’ve just got to learn from it, break down the video and be better next game.”
Kadri tied it 2-2 when he redirected Elias Lindholm‘s shot from the right circle on a power play at 9:39.
“It’s obviously huge,” Vladar said. “It was a tight game after the second, and we just haven’t been getting those bounces and those wins. I think it’s a huge win for us, and hopefully right now this is a turning point and we’re going to keep playing the way we’ve been playing, because I think the guys were playing awesome tonight.”
Video: CGY@SEA: Kadri redirects Lindholm’s shot for a PPG
NOTES: The Flames’ first-period goal was their 41st this season. They are tied for the NHL lead with the Vegas Golden Knights. … Toffoli has five goals in his past six games. … Donato has scored in three straight home games. … Kraken forward Jared McCann‘s three-game goal streak ended. … It was Eberle’s 13th multipoint game with Seattle; only McCann has more (14).
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