Flames 4, Ducks 3 (OT)
CALGARY, Alberta -- Center Mikael Backlund scored the overtime winner on a delayed penalty call as the Calgary Flames beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-3 in Game 3 of their Western Conference playoff series on Tuesday.
The Ducks still lead the series 2-1, with Game 4 set for Friday at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Working from the point, Backlund sent a long shot through traffic that missed everybody and hit twine for the winner.
Left winger Brandon Bollig scored his second of the post-season, while center Joe Colborne scored his first in regulation for the Flames before rookie left winger Johnny Gaudreau's late equalizer to force overtime.
Wingers Patrick Maroon, Matt Belesky and Corey Perry scored in regulation for the Ducks, while center Ryan Getzlaf and defenseman Simon Despres each had a pair of assists.
Gaudreau scored the tying goal on a five-on-three power play with the goalie pulled with 19.5 seconds left.
With Flames center Matt Stajan and Despres off on coincidental minors, Ducks defenseman Sami Vatanen took a penalty for firing the puck over the glass. The Flames then capitalized in the dying seconds as Gaudreau walked in on the right wing and ripped a top-corner blast past Ducks goalie Frederik Anderson, who made 17 saves in the game, to tie the game at 3.
Down 2-1 to start the second, the Flames got the home crowd fired up while short-handed. Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm blew a tire and fell at the Flames blueline, giving Colborne a breakaway. The lanky center deked to his forehand and tucked the puck under the sprawled leg of Andersen to ignite the crowd.
The Ducks got it right back though, after hemming the Flames in their own zone for a handful of shifts. Finally, Belesky got open in the slot for a clean shot, and he ripped one to the top corner over the shoulder of Flames goalie Karri Ramo, making 18 saves in his second straight start.
The Flames were looking for a home-crowd bounce out of the gate, and they got it. Just 2:07 in, Granlund and Bollig broke in on a 2-on-1 with the lone man back being Ducks right winger Tim Jackman. Bollig chipped the puck ahead to Granlund, and the center fed Bollig alone in front. He roofed the puck on Andersen.
The lead was short-lived, however, as the Ducks top line connected a little less than five minutes later. Getzlaf snagged a pass near the corner, then whipped the puck across the crease for Maroon for the quick tap-in and the game was tied 1-1.
The Ducks took a 2-1 lead at 14:10 of the first period. On a mad scramble in the Flames zone, Despres circled the net and threw the puck out front, where it hit Perry's skate and went in. After a review, it stood up as a good goal as Perry was ruled to have no distinct kicking motion.
NOTES: Flames D Raphael Diaz made his playoff debut, taking the place of D Tyler Wotherspoon. Diaz has missed 12 games since suffering a lower-body injury April 2 against the St. Louis Blues. ... Ducks G Jason LaBarbera served as the backup to G Frederick Andersen with G John Gibson (flu) still recovering from illness. Gibson is on the trip and is expected to recover in time to suit up for Friday's Game 4. ... Flames C Markus Granlund took the place of LW David Wolf with LW Micheal Ferland (upper body) out for a second straight night. ... Flames C Sam Bennett suited up in his 10th game this season (one in the regular season and nine in the playoffs) and that means he burns his first year of an entry-level contract.