Flames rally past Penguins with 3 goals in 3rd

CALGARY -- Yegor Sharangovich scored his second of the game with 50 seconds remaining, and the Calgary Flames rallied with three goals in the third period to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 at Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday.

Sharangovich took a drop pass in the slot from Mikael Backlund and beat Tristan Jarry glove side with a wrist shot.

"I just saw that I think it was [Sharangovich] pressuring the one 'D,' and I was hoping he'd give it to the other 'D' and I just jumped him," Backlund said. "Then I didn't know who I actually passed it to. I just saw two red guys behind me and I dropped it. Very nice finish by 'Sharkie.'"

Nazem Kadri and Blake Coleman also scored in the third for the Flames (30-25-5), who have won five in a row for the first time since April 4-12, 2022. Jacob Markstrom made 27 saves.

"It says a lot about who we have in here," Kadri said. "We have a bunch of guys in here that refuse to go down (without) swinging, and that's a great mentality to have."

Lars Eller, Jonathan Gruden and Jeff Carter scored, and Jarry made 16 saves for the Penguins (27-23-8), who have lost two straight after winning three in a row.

"We have to keep fighting," Pittsburgh forward Drew O'Connor said. "It's a tough way to end that game. We know how important each game is, and we need a lot of them right now. To lose that one when we're in control hurts a lot, but we have another one tomorrow (at the Edmonton Oilers) we have to get ready for."

Prior to the game, the Flames held a ceremony for the retirement of Miikka Kiprusoff's No. 34 jersey. The goaltender played for Calgary from 2003-2013 and is the franchise's all-time leader in wins (305), shutouts (41), goals against average (2.46), save percentage (.913) and games played by a goalie (576).

"Obviously, one to get the special night," Coleman said. "Everybody's really happy for 'Kipper' and his family, and it's really cool to see how much support he received tonight and how much he meant to this city. To honor him with a win is special.

"On the business side of things, we're chasing teams that are winning games. We can't slip up and we talked about that going into the third and how important these points were. Give the guys credit on this team. They dug in and found a way."

Kadri cut the Penguins' lead to 3-2 at 10:09 of the third period with a power-play goal just as a 4-on-4 expired. He stickhandled around Kris Letang before cutting across the crease and tucking the puck around Jarry's outstretched right pad.

"It's go time," Kadri said. "I think that's what everyone should be saying. The third period is an opportunity, really, whatever the situation is ... crawl back, build on a lead, tie the game ... whatever the situation is you always want to finish strong, and that's what we've been doing this year."

Coleman scored 32 seconds later with a one-timer off a centering pass from Andrew Mangiapane to tie it 3-3.

"I think we just gave them opportunities that they didn't really earn," O'Connor said. "We just kind of gave it to them and they made the most of it. You can't do that late in the third."

Gruden, who was recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on Friday, scored his first NHL goal at 16:42 of the first period to give Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead. He banked a sharp-angled shot in off Markstrom from below the left circle.

"It obviously feels good," Gruden said. "It was a good feeling. Maybe not the prettiest goal. Probably feel a bit better with two points. Maybe I can enjoy it in a couple days."

Eller extended the lead to 2-0 at 19:26 when he batted the puck out of the air near the right post on the power play.

Sharangovich cut it to 2-1 at 3:37 of the second period. He shot five-hole from the bottom of the right circle after poking the puck past Letang at the blue line.

Carter pushed it to 3-1 at 2:51 of the third period with a deflection of Ryan Graves' shot from the left point.

"It's certainly a little deflating, but I don't think we ever feel like we're out of it," Kadri said. "At that point there was still half a period left, and that's enough time to crawl yourself back in a hockey game or at least give yourself an opportunity to pull the goaltender and see what happens. Thankfully we didn't need that. We just keep fighting."

NOTES: It was the Flames' ninth comeback win in the third period this season, and their third multigoal comeback in the third period, which is tied for the most in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs. ... Penguins captain Sidney Crosby had an assist on Eller's goal and has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in his past eight games. ... Pittsburgh is 17-5-0 when leading after two periods.