Flames extend point streak with OT win against Hurricanes

CALGARY -- Mikael Backlund scored 15 seconds into overtime for the Calgary Flames to extend their point streak to nine games with a 3-2 win against the Carolina Hurricanes at Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday.

Backlund took a pass from TJ Brodie at the Hurricanes blue line before going backhand to forehand and shooting by goalie Petr Mrazek on the rush from the bottom of the right face-off circle.
"It feels good," Backlund said. "Can't complain. It's great winning. It's the most fun part of the business. Everyone's happy. It's great."
WATCH: [All Hurricanes vs. Flames highlights]
Carolina's Sebastian Aho tied the game 2-2 with 44 seconds remaining in the third period.
"That's a really, really good team, and they're tough to play against," Aho said. "There was a good battle, good hockey game. Great to get the tie in the end, but we [messed] up in OT."
Mark Jankowski and Oliver Kylington scored, and David Rittich made 33 saves for Calgary (33-13-5), which is 8-0-1 since Jan. 5.

Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau's NHL career-high point streak ended at 11 games. He had 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) in that span.
Calgary has won 11 of its past 14 games (11-1-2) and is in first place in the Western Conference heading into 2019 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend, which will be followed by their mandatory five-day break.
"We're proud of what we've done up to this point, but we're not where we want to be yet," Jankowski said. "There's a lot of season left to go, and these next 30-something games are going to be a grind. We have to come back from the break ready to come right back right where we left off."
Dougie Hamilton scored, and Mrazek made 22 saves for the Hurricanes (23-20-6), who have lost three of the past four.
"I liked the way we played," forward Teuvo Teravainen said. "We didn't get the result, but if we keep playing like, that I'm pretty sure we can get some wins. I think they're a pretty good team. It's a really, really good game both ways."

Hamilton and forward Micheal Ferland played against the Flames for the first time since they were traded along with defenseman prospect Adam Fox on June 23 for forward Elias Lindholm and defenseman Noah Hanifin, who faced the Hurricanes for the first time.
Calgary coach Bill Peters also faced his former team for the first time. He was hired by the Flames on April 23, 2018, three days after he resigned as coach of the Hurricanes.
"There was no chirping out there, no," Hanifin said.
Kylington, a rookie defenseman, scored in his second straight game to make it 1-0 at 1:58 of the first period on Calgary's first shot on goal.
"I think every game now I've been growing and feeling more comfortable and feeling comfortable using my offensive abilities," said Kylington, who has three goals in 27 NHL games. "I think I'm just resetting after every game and trying to play my best game every game I get the chance to play."

Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour challenged for goalie interference by Derek Ryan, but the goal was upheld by video review.
Hamilton scored to tie it 1-1 at 15:48 when his centering pass deflected off Brodie's stick. Hamilton had 137 points (42 goals, 95 assists) in 245 games with the Flames from 2015-18.
His goal came after Mrazek made a left-pad save on Mark Giordano at 12:26 to thwart a tic-tac-toe play by Calgary, and before Mrazek made saves on Garnet Hathaway with his glove at 17:38 and paddle at 17:40.
"He made a lot of good saves when we needed those," Teravainen said. "A lot of key saves. I think he's doing that every game. He's giving us chances to win. We have to just make sure we help him."
Jankowski scored to put Calgary up 2-1 at 6:40 of the second period on a loose puck to Mrazek's left.
Ferland left the game at 12:31 of the second period. He missed a 7-4 win at the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday because of an upper-body injury.

They said it

"Everyone's happy about how we've ended the first half. I don't think we played our best game, but I think we showed that we can score goals and still be in the game even though we're not playing our best hockey. We showed that tonight. I think everyone's happy about the win." -- Flames defenseman Oliver Kylington
"It was great battle by us. A grind. That's a great team, but we've got to believe that so are we. I feel like we had more chances than they did. They scored one goal more than us. That's how you win hockey games." -- Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho

Need to know

Aho has 10 points (six goals, four assists) in the past six games. ... Lindholm has 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in an eight-game point streak.

What's next

Hurricanes: At the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday (10:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, SNP, FS-CR, NHL.TV)
Flames: At the Washington Capitals on Feb. 1 (7 p.m. ET; NBCSWA, SNW, NHL.TV)