Kadri's OT winner lifts Flames past Bruins 3-2 for second straight win
![Nazem Kadri, Feb. 22, 2024 Calgary Flames' Nazem Kadri, right, celebrates his game-winning goal against the Boston Bruins with MacKenzie Weegar during overtime NHL hockey action in Calgary, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry MacDougalCalgary Flames' Nazem Kadri, right, celebrates his game-winning goal against the Boston Bruins with MacKenzie Weegar during overtime NHL hockey action in Calgary, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry MacDougal](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2024/2/23/nazem-kadri--feb--22--2024-1-6781186-1708722620403.jpg)
Centring two rookies has been a new role for Nazem Kadri, but he's thriving in it.
Kadri scored 3:56 into overtime and had an assist on Thursday night to lead the Calgary Flames to a 3-2 victory over the Boston Bruins. Kadri kept the puck on a 3-on-1 and fired a low shot into the far corner on Linus Ullmark just seconds after Jakob Markstrom stopped a David Pastrnak shot on the other end.
“I was exhausted by the end of that one, just an absolute track meet,” Kadri said. “Nice to come out on the proper side of that one. Marky made some great saves for us. Gave us the opportunity to go cash in.”
The 33-year-old's line with 24-year-old Martin Pospisil, who also scored, and 22-year-old Connor Zary has been Calgary's best line since being placed together in mid-November.
“I've definitely never played with so many rookies in my whole career,” Kadri said. “It's nice to find some guys you can build some chemistry with. They're character guys, always willing to learn and willing to get better and push themselves. And that's motivating for me too.”
Kadri leads the Flames with 50 points (20 goals, 30 assists), just six shy of his production last year, his first with Calgary.
“He's one of those guys that hates to lose more than he likes to win,” said Flames coach Ryan Huska. “So that's why I think you see him elevate his play.”
Sharing the spotlight was Markstrom, who made numerous clutch stops over the final two periods and overtime. Markstrom's 211th career win moves him past Tommy Salo into second place for most wins by a Swedish-born goaltender, with Henrik Lundqvist atop the list at 459.
“He's the backbone,” said Kadri. “That's what all great teams have, they have a guy in the crease that can make some timely saves and to win a championship, to win playoff games, to win playoff series, you need timely saves and you need timely goals and we saw both those tonight.”
Since returning from a broken finger on Dec. 18, Markstrom has gone 13-7-0 with a .928 save percentage.
“He's our best player and he bails us out,” said Flames defenceman Oliver Kylington, who scored his second goal in as many games. “You're not going to win many games in the league if you don't have a goalie like that.”
Calgary (27-25-5) swept the season series against the NHL-leading Bruins, also having beaten them 4-1 in Boston on Feb. 6.
“When everybody is at the top of their game, we're really good,” said Markstrom, who finished with 32 saves.
Charlie Coyle scored both goals for Boston (34-12-12), which extended its road point streak to 11 games (7-0-4). Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy each had their five-game point streaks snapped.
"We had chances to end the game. That's hockey. It's an inch or two there and it's a different story and we're feeling great about our game,” said Coyle.
Ullmark stopped 27 shots.
"We didn't come out the way we wanted to,” he said. “We knew what needed to be done to be successful out there and we showed that in the second and the third and we battled back and stuck with it and got a point out of it."
Trailing 2-1 entering the third, it took the Bruins just 2:33 to tie it. Coyle swooped in alone on Markstrom and scored on a backhand-to-forehand move.
BLUE LINE SHUFFLE
With defenceman Matt Grzelcyk (foot) out, Boston inserted veteran defenceman Kevin Shattenkirk into the lineup, while calling up defenceman Ian Mitchell from the American Hockey League's Providence Bruins.
NEARING A RETURN
Flames rookie left-winger Jakob Pelletier (shoulder) returned to practice on Thursday, having missed the past four games. He had only been back for four games when he got hurt a second time. He missed the first half of the season after a pre-season shoulder injury required surgery.
UP NEXT
Bruins: Road trip continues on Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks.
Flames: Travel to Edmonton to take on the Oilers on Saturday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 22, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.4972530.1591455178!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Prince William made $42 million from his newly inherited estate last year, reports show
Newly released financial reports show that William, the Prince of Wales, drew a salary of $42.1 million last fiscal year, his first since inheriting the vast and lucrative Duchy of Cornwall.
'Sick to my stomach': People grieve Jasper National Park by sharing favourite photos
As an out-of-control wildfire roared through Alberta’s famed Jasper National Park and its townsite late Wednesday, many are fearing the worst as officials warned of 'significant loss' within the area.
LIVE @ 11 A.M. MT Extent of Jasper wildfire damage still unknown; Alberta Wildfire hosting update
Officials are waiting to learn Thursday morning the extent of wildfire damage in the Jasper townsite of Jasper National Park, which flames began to eat away at the night before.
Canadian women's soccer team staffer given suspended prison sentence over drone incident, prosecutor says
A Canada women's soccer team staffer has been given an eight-month suspended prison sentence after flying a drone to film the closed-door training session of the New Zealand team on Monday, the prosecutor's office said in a statement.
Jennifer Aniston criticizes JD Vance for 'childless cat ladies' remarks: 'I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children'
Jennifer Aniston is criticizing JD Vance for comments he made in his past about women without children.
Sale of envoy's NYC condo 'expected to exceed' $9M: government
The current official residence for Canada's representative in New York City is 'being readied for sale,' according to a spokesperson from Global Affairs Canada.
Jasper wildfire burns buildings, while poor air quality forces some fire crews out
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on social media that Ottawa has approved Alberta's request for federal assistance after a fast-moving wildfire hit Jasper National Park and its townsite late Wednesday.
'I'm so broke': Two Toronto women speak out after losing $76,000 in romance scam
Two women from the Toronto area are speaking out after losing thousands of dollars to a romance scam, including a single mother who lost $62,000.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.