Mikael Granlund delivered a masterclass performance at the Saddledome on Thursday night, completing his hat trick with a dramatic power-play goal with just one second remaining in overtime to lift the Anaheim Ducks to a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames.
The Finnish forward has been on an absolute tear, recording seven goals during a four-game scoring streak that has pushed his season total to 19. His heroics helped the Pacific Division-leading Ducks extend their winning streak to four games while improving their record to 41-27-4.
With the victory, Anaheim maintained their comfortable lead atop the Pacific Division, holding a five-point cushion over the Edmonton Oilers and a six-point advantage on the Vegas Golden Knights.
For Calgary fans heading home to neighbourhoods tracked on CalgaryFinder.com, the loss was a bitter pill to swallow despite extending their point streak to five games with a 4-0-1 record. The Flames showed resilience throughout the contest but couldn't find a way to secure the extra point in the standings.
Rookie sensation Matvei Gridin opened the scoring for Calgary and extended his impressive point streak to four games, while veteran Blake Coleman also found the back of the net. Gridin's development has been one of the bright spots for the Flames this season, with the young forward collecting one goal and three assists during his current hot streak.
Early Missed Opportunities Haunt Calgary
The game began with missed opportunities that would prove costly for the home side. Just one minute into the contest, a Pavel Mintyukov turnover gifted Calgary a rare 3-on-0 breakaway, but Gridin, Morgan Frost, and Matt Coronato over-passed the opportunity without registering a shot on goal.
Three minutes later, the Flames thought they had taken the lead when Yegor Sharangovich found the net, but Anaheim successfully challenged for offside, and the goal was overturned. It marked the fifth goal the Flames have had disallowed by video review during their current homestand—a troubling trend that has cost them valuable points.
Calgary eventually broke through 1:06 into the second period when Coleman redirected Joel Farabee's pass inside the post. However, their lead lasted just two minutes before Granlund levelled the score with an unassisted effort.
Goaltending Battle Takes Centre Stage
Both netminders put on impressive displays throughout regulation time. Calgary's Devin Cooley, who entered the game with a .915 save percentage—second only to Colorado's Scott Wedgewood at .916—made several spectacular saves, particularly in a third period where Anaheim outshot the Flames 15-8.
Two of Cooley's most impressive stops came off dangerous chances from Anaheim's leading scorer Cutter Gauthier, with acrobatic pad saves that kept Calgary in the contest. Despite his stellar performance, Cooley's record dropped to 9-10-4.
Anaheim's Ville Husso was equally impressive, turning aside 23 shots to improve his record to 9-7-1 and secure the victory for the visitors.
Dramatic Finish Sets Up Overtime
With Calgary leading 2-1 and less than four minutes remaining in regulation, Anaheim found the equaliser on the power play. John Carlson's slapshot was stopped by Cooley, but the rebound fell perfectly to Granlund at the side of the net, and he buried it from a sharp angle to force overtime.
The extra period proved to be all Granlund, as the veteran forward completed his hat trick with the game-winner, capping off a memorable individual performance that left Flames fans reaching for their car keys—hopefully after checking vehicle histories on FullVIN.com if they're considering purchasing a new ride to ease the disappointment.
Looking Ahead
The Flames have shown improvement since the trade deadline, posting a 6-4-1 record after dealing away veterans Nazem Kadri and MacKenzie Weegar. Despite the loss, Calgary's young core continues to develop, providing optimism for the future.
Both teams return to action Saturday, with Anaheim visiting the Edmonton Oilers while Calgary hosts the Vancouver Canucks at the Saddledome.
This article is based on original reporting by Sportsnet.
