Flames newbie Pospisil helps take down Kraken, snap six-game skid

Jonathan Huberdeau looked up at the sky and raised his arms in disbelief.

A pair of fortuitous empty netters had just snapped one of the most frustrating stretches in recent Flames lore.

A 6-3 Flames victory in Seattle snapped a six-game losing skid and started a rather obscure streak that has now seen a Flames youngster score in his NHL debut for the second straight game. 

Three nights after Connor Zary scored on his third NHL shift, Martin Pospisil banged in his first goal just 15 minutes after taking his solo rookie lap.

It’s something probably I will never forget, especially the first one – I’m really happy for it,” said the 23-year-old Slovak, who dedicated the goal to his brother, who has helped the fourth round pick through the trials of spending the bulk of the last four years nursing injuries.

“Living the dream right now. 

“That was great, especially when the team wins.”

His goal marked the first time in 22 years an NHL team had rookies score in their NHL debuts in back-to-back games.

Seems like an easy league for these kids,” chuckled Mikael Backlund afterwards.

“Isn’t that something,” added coach Ryan Huska. “I wonder who is next.”

Pospisil’s goal tied the game 1-1 late in the first and came on the heels of having to spend five minutes shorthanded due to an Andrew Mangiapane match penalty for intent to injure.

The rookie’s goal set the stage for a three-goal outburst by the Flames who saw Noah Hanifin tie the game in the final minute of the second, followed by early third period goals by Yegor Sharangovich and Backlund.

Although the Kraken made it interesting with a goal with 91 seconds left, two long-range empty-netters represented the first sign that the Flames’ luck is turning.

I’m super proud of him, he scored right away and got the first one off his belt. Hopefully he’s going to stay here a long time,” said goalie Dan Vladar, who made several spectacular saves in a close game, as part of his 17 on the night.

“It was a big moment in the game to answer right away,” added Backlund. “I thought we played a very mature game and didn’t give them too many shots or chances.”

Nothing has come easy for these Flames of late, but several players seemed to have breakthrough evenings, including Backlund, whose game-winner was his first of the season.

A 180-foot bank shot into an empty net was his second.

Sharangovich had perhaps his best game of the season, scoring on a deflection, adding a season-high four shots and being involved all night in a game that saw the Flames play with 11 forwards most of the evening.

Zary was easily one of the most engaged forwards once again, giving the team the sort of spark the organization has been hoping its youngsters can provide, especially in a drought like the team was in.

Dillon Dube and Nikita Zadorov returned to the lineup and call-up Nick DeSimone made his season debut on the third pairing. 

Mangiapane’s match penalty came midway through the first period for a crosscheck that was labelled intent to injure. 

At the tail end of a lengthy shift, Mangiapane had a good rebound chance blocked by a sprawling Jared McCann.

As McCann lay prone on the ice, face down, Mangiapane bent down to administer a crosscheck to the back of McCann’s neck that shoved his opponent’s face into the ice.

McCann was shaken up on the play but returned late in the period.

A quick video review finished with Mangiapane being tossed from the game, prompting the league to automatically review the incident as early as Sunday.

similar incident in the conference final last year saw Jamie Benn get two games for an identical motion on Mark Stone.

Two games late in the playoffs loosely translates into anywhere from four to six regular season games.

Stay tuned – the Flames may need to summon yet another body from the farm, potentially opening the door for another rookie to extend the obscure streak.