Justin Kirkland scored the winning goal in the sixth round of a shootout to give the host Calgary Flames a 4-3 comeback victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.
Rasmus Andersson collected one goal and one assist while MacKenzie Weegar and Nazem Kadri also scored for the Flames, who have yet to lose in regulation time this season (5-0-1). Goalie Dustin Wolf made 35 saves through regulation and overtime and finished with a win in his first NHL shootout.
Kirkland notched his first career shootout goal by dragging the netminder across the crease before snapping a quick shot into the cage. Wolf denied 500-goal scorer Evgeni Malkin on the ensuing attempt to seal the victory.
The Flames have claimed three comeback victories already this season.
Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell and Noel Acciari scored for the Penguins, who are 0-2-1 in their past three games. Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic made 22 saves through regulation and overtime.
Acciari put the Penguins ahead 3-2 with 6:20 remaining in regulation by chipping home a close-in chance for his first goal of the season.
However, Kadri forced overtime by converting during a scramble with 42.9 seconds left on the clock, his third goal of the season.
The Flames had all of the early momentum and were rewarded with Andersson’s goal at the 11:48 mark of the game. The defenseman joined an odd-man rush and was on the spot to deposit the loose puck for his third goal of the season.
Pittsburgh tied the game with a power-play goal at 6:31 of the second period. Rust found a spot in the slot and upon receiving a pass from Sidney Crosby, buried a top-shelf shot for his second goal of the campaign.
Rakell put the Penguins ahead at 2:32 of the third period with a fortunate tally, banking a sharp-angled offering that eluded Wolf for his fourth goal of the season.
However, Weegar evened the score five minutes later by unloading a slap shot from the point that found the mark for his third of the season.
–Field Level Media
