Key Takeaways
- Calgary and Philadelphia traded the lead all night, with the Flyers ahead 1–0, 2–1 and 3–2 on goals by Barkey, Acciari and Tippett.
- Joel Farabee tied it 3–3 for Calgary on a short-handed breakaway in the third- his sixth straight home game with a goal- after Parekh and Whitecloud had answered for the Flames .
- Matt Coronato won it at 4:08 of overtime on a 3-on-1rush,moments after Philadelphia failed to score on a 3-on-1of its own; Devin Cooley made 32 saves in his first start since Oct28
A Game Neither Team Could Hold — Until Coronato Ended It
Sunday's game at the Saddledome was a tug-of-war with neither side able to keep its grip. Philadelphia struck first through Denver Barkey, only for Zayne Parekh to pull Calgary level. Noel Acciari restored the Flyers' lead; Zach Whitecloud answered with his first goal of the season. Then Owen Tippett's power-play goal made it 3–2 Philadelphia in the second period, leaving Calgary chasing a game that refused to get away — but wouldn't come within reach either.
The Flames found their way back through a short-handed strike. Joel Farabee broke away on a Flyers power play and scored at 8:27 of the third to make it 3–3 — extending his scoring streak to six consecutive home games with a goal. Devin Cooley, making his first start since October 28 after a lower-body injury, turned aside 32 shots to carry Calgary into overtime. Dan Vladar stopped 22 for Philadelphia.
One 3-on-1 Wasted, One Buried
Overtime produced the game's defining contrast. Philadelphia broke forward on a 3-on-1 rush but couldn't even get a shot on net. Calgary immediately turned the tables with a 3-on-1 of its own. Matt Coronato took Matvei Gridin's pass and snapped the winner home past the goalie, blocker side, at 4:08 of overtime.
The victory ended a two-game slide for the Flames (8-9-1). Philadelphia (4-10-5) suffered its third consecutive loss, and captain Sean Couturier wasn't hiding his frustration. After passing Rod Brind'Amour for ninth on Philadelphia's all-time assists list in the loss, he put the problem bluntly: his team is finding ways to lose games.
Calgary's victory also came with difficult news. Defenceman Kevin Bahl will require season-ending surgery for a ruptured Achilles tendon.
The Twikup Take
Philadelphia had its chance to finish the game. Calgary got the same opportunity — and made it count. One wasted 3-on-1, one perfectly executed finish, and the Flames walked away with the overtime winner.
Farabee's short-handed breakaway kept Calgary within reach, but Coronato's finish delivered the moment Flames fans will remember.
*Image: Matthew Coronato shoots on net during the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic skills competition by TheAHL, CC BY 2.0.