MacKenzie Weegar netted a goal with just 5 seconds left in overtime, propelling the Calgary Flames to a 2-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday night.
A.J. Greer also scored for the Flames, while Dan Vladar made 27 saves. The Flames, now 5-2-1 in their last eight games, have won two of their last three and are unbeaten in regulation in their last four home games (3-0-1).
The winning play began with Weegar starting an end-to-end rush from behind the Flames’ net, weaving through the ice, and finally firing a shot past Vegas goalie Adin Hill on the blocker side.
Weegar described it as his most significant goal for the Flames.
“Absolutely. I don’t have an overtime goal. It comes at the right time against a great team (to start a) six-game homestand,” Weegar said. “That’s exciting. That’s fun.”
With Jacob Markstrom sidelined due to the flu, Vladar made consecutive starts for the first time and excelled in his first home start since February 28, improving his record to 4-2-1.
“He did an amazing job. By far his best game of the year for us,” Flames coach Ryan Huska said. “There were some key moments in the game where it could have gone the other direction off of some turnovers, and he made some big saves for us.”
William Karlsson scored a power-play goal in the first period for Vegas, and Hill finished with 32 saves. The Golden Knights have lost seven of their last ten games (3-5-2) after starting the season with an 11-0-1 record.
“It’s another game where we’re in the game, playing well enough to win. If we finish some of those Grade A’s, we’re not sitting here talking about a loss,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said.
In the third period, Weegar nearly became the game’s scapegoat after losing the puck at the Vegas blue line, allowing Ivan Barbashev a breakaway. Vladar, however, made the critical save, as he did throughout his best start of the season.
Vladar was especially sharp in the second period, notably when he robbed Nicolas Roy twice. Early in the period, he went post-to-post to kick out his left pad and block Roy’s one-timer. Later, Roy got in alone, but Vladar stretched out his right pad to deny him.
“Not our best, not our worst, either,” Roy said. “It just feels right now that we don’t find ways to win. Obviously, every team in this league is going to have bad stretches. We’re in one right now.”
Vegas opened the scoring at 13:53 of the first period, converting its first power play of the game. Michael Amadio’s shot was stopped, but Karlsson fired the rebound into the open side of the net for his 10th goal.
After a scoreless second period, Calgary tied it at 2:31 of the third when Nazem Kadri’s shot deflected off a Vegas player and landed at the feet of Greer, who ripped it past Hill for his fourth goal of the season.
Greer was claimed off waivers from Boston just before the season, and he already has four goals, just one shy of his career-high of five, which he set last year in 61 games with the Bruins.
Calgary lost Chris Tanev late in the third. He took a wrist shot from Karlsson directly to the face and dropped to the ice immediately.
Vegas defensemen Shea Theodore (upper body) and Alec Martinez (lower body) missed their second and third games, respectively.
UP NEXT
Golden Knights: At Edmonton on Tuesday night in the middle game of a three-game trip to western Canada.
Flames: Host Dallas on Thursday night in the second of a six-game homestand.
