Flames 3, Predators 2 (OT)
CALGARY, Alberta -- Mikael Backlund scored at 1:12 of overtime to lead the Calgary Flames to a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators on Wednesday at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Johnny Gaudreau assisted on the OT winner and also scored twice in a span of 10 seconds in the first period for the Flames (28-34-5), who have earned points in three straight games on the heels of a seven-game losing streak.
Although Gaudreau broke his previous personal mark of two goals in 16 seconds that he set last season against the Edmonton Oilers at home in December of 2014, he didn't break the Flames' franchise mark that was set by Lanny McDonald in March of 1984 when he scored twice in just six seconds.
Sean Monahan and Mark Giordano both finished with two assists for the Flames, while goaltender Joni Ortio made 24 saves to improve his record to 2-6-3 this season.
Mike Fisher had a goal and an assist in the third period for the Predators, who rallied from a 2-0 deficit to force overtime. In his 30th NHL game, rookie Nashville defenseman Anthony Bitetto scored his first career goal.
With the overtime loss, the Predators extended their franchise-record point streak ended at 14 straight games.
Making his first start since Feb. 23 -- a span of six games -- Nashville goalie Carter Hutton stopped 31 of 34 shots he faced.
The Flames played the third period without the services of forward Sam Bennett and defenseman TJ Brodie, who both left the game with upper-body injuries.
The Flames carried the majority of the play early in the game and were rewarded when Gaudreau wired a shot to the short side past Hutton at 9:34 of the first period. Initially neither of the referees signaled a goal and play continued until 9:57 when the horn sounded to stop the clock. A video review then determined that the puck entered the Nashville net.
Only 10 seconds after play resumed, Gaudreau scored his second of the game when he took a pass from Monahan and skated past falling Nashville defenseman Ryan Ellis before snapping a shot through Hutton's legs.
The Flames had a pair of great short-handed chances early in the second period, but Hutton stood his ground to stop shots by Backlund and Monahan.
At the other end of the ice, Ortio came out of his net to stop a heavy slap shot from the point off the stick of Bitetto before the Calgary goalie was able to smother the rebound.
Bitetto was then in the right place at the right time to tap a nice feed from Mike Fisher past Ortio at 7:44 of the third period to get the Predators on the board. Fisher was actually sitting on the ice when he spotted Bitetto at the side of the net and fed him the puck for the easy tap-in.
Fisher then converted a feed from Viktor Arvidsson with 1:18 remaining in regulation to force the extra session.
NOTES: Nashville had scored at least four goals in five straight games and at least three in seven in a row. ... The Predators were 12-1-3 this season against teams from Canada, including 8-0-1 on the road. ... Flames D Jakub Nakladal returned to the lineup after missing one game with an eye injury sustained in the second period of a 4-2 win over the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Saturday. ... D Tyler Wotherspoon played his second straight game for the Flames after being recalled Monday from the AHL's Stockton Heat on an emergency basis. This time, he was filling in for D Deryk Engelland, who sat out with a lower-body injury. ... Calgary also scratched G Niklas Backstrom, and Nashville scratched D Barret Jackman and C Paul Gaustad, the latter of whom is out with an upper-body injury.