Flames stay hot by beating Hurricanes in OT

Mikael Backlund scored 15 seconds into overtime and goalie David Rittich made 33 saves in a sparkling performance as the host Calgary Flames beat the Carolina 3-2 on Tuesday night. Backlund won the faceoff to kick off the extra period, gained the puck back from T.J. Brodie before driving to the net and lifting a backhand into the cage for the winner. Backlund added an assist in a two-point game. Brodie finished with two assists.

The Western Conference-leading Flames head into the All-Star break riding a three-game winning streak and are on an 8-0-1 run. Calgary has a six-point lead on the San Jose Sharks for the top spot in the Pacific Division. Oliver Kylington opened the scoring with Calgary's first shot 1:58 into the game. Off a won faceoff, Kylington gained the puck along the boards and cut across to the front of the net, then deposited a backhander for his second goal in as many outings.

Dougie Hamilton, who the Flames traded to Carolina last summer, replied for the visitors with a lucky goal at the 15:48 mark. Hamilton sent a long wrist shot that Brodie deflected into his own net. Although it was a fortunate bounce for the visitors, the goal was well deserved as the Hurricanes controlled play for much of the game. Mark Jankowski restored Calgary's lead at 6:40 of the middle frame. While the clubs were playing four-on-four, Jankowski was on the spot for a rebound tally, his eighth of the season.

However, with their goalie on the bench for the extra attacker and 43.4 seconds left in regulation, the Hurricanes' Sebastian Aho scored to force extra time. Aho finished a pretty tic-tac-toe play for his 22nd tally of the season to make it 2-2. Former Hurricanes center Elias Lindholm collected an assist to run his point-scoring streak to eight games, in which he's collected one goal and 10 points.

Petr Mrazek made 22 saves for the Hurricanes, who have one win and one overtime loss on their three-game road swing through Western Canada. Carolina will face the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday before getting a rest for the All-Star break. --Field Level Media