Morgan Frost contributed a goal and an assist as the Calgary Flames ended their five-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks at Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday.
“It’s nice to produce, for sure,” Frost said after the game. “I was definitely going through a rough stretch there before and I’m just trying to build it back. I thought tonight was one of my better ones of the year.
“I think that’s always been the thing with me, though, is keeping it going for a long stretch of time. I’m not going to be satisfied with that.”
Joel Farabee scored a short-handed goal in the third period, while Matvei Gridin also found the net for Calgary (22-26-6), which had previously lost five consecutive games. Goaltender Dustin Wolf made 23 saves and improved his career record against San Jose to 9-2-0.
“I liked our game,” Flames coach Ryan Huska commented. “We took a little bit on late in the game, I thought, where ‘Wolfy’ made some big saves for us, but all in all I thought it was a good game for us.”
For San Jose (27-22-4), Will Smith and Adam Gaudette each scored. Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 39 shots in goal.
“That one hurts,” Smith said following the defeat. “Honestly, if you look [at] the shots, I think we just need more and obviously that’s going to create more offense.”
Farabee broke an 11-game goalless drought at 6:53 of the third period by scoring from close range after Mikael Backlund’s shot bounced off target and returned to him at the right post.
“Joel scores all of his goals right around the net front for the most part, so that’s where he goes,” Huska noted. “Him and our penalty-kill unit has done a really good job over the last little while, not only killing penalties, but finding a way to generate some offense.”
During a Sharks power play late in regulation, Wolf blocked Smith’s snap shot with his blocker and later used his left pad to deny Macklin Celebrini from close range with seconds remaining.
“It was just a great save, to be honest,” Smith remarked about Wolf’s stop. “He’s pretty shifty. He got over there pretty quick. I tried to get it up top, but he made a great save.”
San Jose coach Ryan Warsofsky added: “We did some good things. Wolf made some big saves there.”
Smith opened scoring early in the first period on a power play after converting Alexander Wennberg’s cross-crease pass.
“It was just a good play on the wall by ‘Wennie’,” Smith explained. “Then he made a great pass, and I just tried to get it on net, and it went in.”
Frost tied it later in the first period during a two-man advantage when he lifted home Matt Coronato’s rebound.
“The first period was pretty good and then I kind of just built confidence from there,” Frost said. “I think when I’m feeling confident in my game out there, that’s when I can start to be a little more creative and do some of the things that I know I can.”
Gaudette put San Jose ahead again early in the second period by finishing off William Eklund’s pass for his third straight game with a goal.
Gridin equalized midway through the frame with his second NHL goal—his shot beating Nedeljkovic after receiving Frost’s pass at the right circle.
“It feels awesome, I’m not going to lie,” Gridin stated about tying up the score. “Especially to tie the game and help the team win. It feels great.”
Wolf now holds an overall record of 16-2-2 against teams from California; this includes being undefeated against both Anaheim Ducks (4-0-2) and Los Angeles Kings (3-0-0). Farabee is currently tied for most short-handed goals this season alongside Joel Armia (Kings) and Ryan McLeod (Buffalo Sabres).
