Kadri plays clutch role in Flames pursuit of playoff berth

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This article was published 26/03/2025 (240 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CALGARY – Nazem Kadri’s penchant for scoring the big goal at a big time was on display yet again Tuesday.

After starting the third-period comeback with a power-play goal that tied the game 2-2, Kadri’s second of the night in overtime gave the Calgary Flames a 4-3 win over the Seattle Kraken, their fourth consecutive comeback victory.

“Some guys just have that clutch gene, that ‘it’ gene. They want the puck on their stick in a big moment,” said teammate Blake Coleman. “They’ve got that calmness and poise with it to make the play that they need to make. When I say that guys are hungry to win and push for this playoff race, he’s (Kadri) right at the front of it.

The deciding goal at 3:58 came after a game-saving effort from rookie goaltender Dustin Wolf, kicking out his left pad to deny Vince Dunn on a one-timer. Matt Coronato collected the rebound and fired the puck up to a wide open Kadri who cruised in alone and scored his 28th goal on a deke to his forehand.

“Finish the game, finish the game,” said Kadri when asked what was going through his head. “The ice was a little chewed up, it started to roll a little bit. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t just a little bit concerned, but I was able to finish the move off and we needed that second point.”

Having a breakaway from their own side of centre gave everybody time to contemplate what was about to come.

“Sometimes you stand and watch the players that are in the league, and Naz is one of them, pressure coming from behind and he still has the composure to make a great play on a breakaway in overtime like that,” said coach Ryan Huska. “That’s just a really big goal from one of our leaders and main guys that we lean on in those situations.”

Watching from the other end, stick resting on his head, Wolf said he never had a doubt.

“If there’s anyone on a breakaway, I know he’s gonna score. And he did just that.”

The bench was confident, too.

“(Morgan Frost) just gave me a little pop on the chest. Here goes ‘Showtime’, and then that was it,’ said Coleman. “So we had a lot of faith in him.”

Kadri, who has goals in four straight games, also notched the overtime winner in Saturday’s 4-3 win over the Islanders in which the Flames tied it with less than three minutes to go.

In the game before that, Calgary scored four times in the third period to beat the New Jersey Devils 5-3.

“Great win, resilient, third-period comeback … Down, but not out, that’s been the Flames way this year,” said Kadri. “We’re pretty poised and composed if we’re in that type of situation because it’s familiar to us.”

Kadri began overtime sitting in the penalty box after a fight with Brandon Montour, which was part of a wild finish to the third in which Rasmus Andersson gave Calgary the lead at 15:49 only for Jordan Eberle to tie it at 18:30 with the goalie pulled.

“I know he’s going to have impact on our games, because he’s fiery. When the games get bigger and I talk about Blake Coleman being that way, too. When there’s more on the line, they typically play their best hockey,” said Huska.

“Naz is most definitely one of those guys. He always has his engine revved to nine, but when the games mean more, he’s pushing 10.”

Nearly lost in the dramatic finish was it was Kadri’s 300th career NHL goal.

“I almost forgot about that in the back of my mind, but (Jonathan Huberdeau) was quick to remind me after the game,” said Kadri. “It’s a lot of goals. I’ve been fortunate to play alongside some great players, and just to step up for your teammates, there’s really no other feeling like that.”

The second wild-card spot in the Western Conference is held by the red-hot St. Louis who on Tuesday won their seventh game in a row. Calgary continues to lurk four points back of the Blues, with three games in hand.

“If there’s ever a time to get the engines running, it’s right now,” said Wolf. “It’s a super tight race, as everyone knows, and you certainly don’t want to let one slip away, because, you know, the other guys aren’t.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 25, 2025.