Kadri helps Flames beat Coyotes 6-5

CALGARY –

Trailing by a goal entering the third period, Nazem Kadri took the lead as he has all season.

Kadri added an assist and scored the game-tying and game-winning goals to lead the Calgary Flames to a 6-5 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday night.

“There aren't many nights where (Kadri) doesn't play,” Flames coach Ryan Huska said. “I'm glad he's coming this season, he's done a lot for us.”

Kadri led the club with 74 points, 15 points ahead of second-placed Yegor Sharangovic.

“He's a competitor, he always has been. When he's in a situation where he needs to lift someone or grab things, I think he feels obligated that that person is him,” Huska said.

Down 5-4 to start the third, Kadri needed just 74 seconds to tie the game on a sharp corner kick.

Kadri's deflection at 5:43 on the power play gave Calgary their first lead.

“Throughout my life, even in youth hockey, I've always tried to make my teammates proud,” Kadri said. “Just communicating and having chemistry because I understand that team success as a unit usually leads to individual success.”

Andriy Kuzmenko has been the latest to shine, scoring nine goals and 16 points in his last nine games.

“He's not necessarily risk-averse, which can be good and bad,” Kadri said when asked about his talented Russian winger. “But when you start to manage the areas of the ice, the time and the points that come with experience, I think it can be a great tool to use to be fearless and not afraid to make mistakes. »

It's the 10th straight Flames have trailed after 40 minutes, tied with the Colorado Avalanche and New York Rangers for the most in that category.

“We came here, we recovered, we knew we were down by one, but it's not a big deal for this group, they haven't played from behind all year,” Connor Zary said. had a purpose.

Matt Coronato and Sharangovic scored for Calgary (37-38-5).

Dylan Guenther had a pair, Alex Kerfoot, Mathias McChelli and Josh Doan scored for Arizona (35-41-5).

“Too many breakdowns on defense,” Kerfoot said. “He released the puck a little bit. They're a good team in transition and they play without rushing.”

The Coyotes have won four of their last five as they finish the season well. They are 4-1-0 on their five-game road trip with 20 minutes remaining.

“Our guys showed a lot of character in the last week. Our last three games, very competitive games and we've come through two very tough games. Really proud of them,” Coyotes coach Andre Turinni said.

“If you look at our team, we all know that we're a young team and the way we approach, compete and learn. We're now hearing things from the bench that show growth and understanding of game management, changes and puck placement.

“The players are training themselves more and I think it's because they understand where we need to go and what we need to improve.”

Dustin Wolff, the more active of the two goaltenders, made 30 saves to earn his third straight win. He is 6-7-1 on the season.

Connor Ingram made 25 stops to fall to 22-21-3.

Tied 3-3 in the second period, Guenther's second goal of the game at 15:14 gave the Coyotes their third win of the night.

Doan's goal a minute later made it a two-goal cushion, but Sharangovic responded 33 seconds later to pull the score back together at 5-4.

Doan, the son of great Coyote Shane Doan, made an immediate impact in his first month in the NHL. The 22-year-old 2021 second-round pick has five goals and nine points in his first 10 games.

KUZMENKO CRUISING

Kuzmenko, who arrived from Vancouver as part of the trade return for Elias Lindholm, had 14 goals and 26 points in 29 games with the Flames. At the time of his acquisition, he had eight goals and 21 points in 43 games with the Canucks.

POWER-PLAY POWER-PLAY

The Flames are 13-for-31 (42 percent) on the power play in their last nine games dating back to March 28. That's #1 in the NHL at this point. Calgary was previously ranked 30th. They are currently ranked 24th.

NEXT UP

Coyotes: Host the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday.

Flames: Visit the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.

This Canadian Press report was first published on April 14, 2024.