Calgary's seventh-place playoff hopelessness dissolved for one night as a second-period blitz exposed everything wrong with Anaheim's structural defense. The Flames won a game they had no business winning on paper — and Husso's net was the reason it wasn't close.
⚡TURNING POINT
Frost's empty-net goal at 18:49 of the third closed the door on any Anaheim comeback after McTavish's power-play goal had tightened it to 4–3. With Anaheim pressing and possession tilted heavily their way all night, that insurance goal removed the possibility that their shot volume advantage could translate into a result.
🏆WHY CGY WON
•
The second period was a systemic collapse for Anaheim: Calgary scored three unanswered goals in under 18 minutes, all at even strength, converting on a shot share that defied their 20-shot night.
•
Frost generated 5 shots on goal across 15:32 and finished +4, accounting for two goals — Calgary's offensive production concentrated into exactly the moments that mattered.
•
Cooley conceded 0.90 goals below league average on 39 shots — in a two-goal game heading into the third, that margin preserved the lead when Anaheim's volume finally arrived.
📉WHY ANA LOST
•
Husso conceded 2.10 goals above league average on 19 shots — in a game decided by two goals at regulation, that margin is the loss.
•
Twenty Calgary giveaways produced no turnaround goals for Anaheim, meaning six takeaways went entirely unconverted.
•
Special teams were a net negative: Anaheim drew three power plays but converted once, while their penalty discipline gifted Calgary opportunities that tightened possession.
Three Stars
Leo Carlsson1st
ANA, C
1G3 SOGTOI 20:06
His goal briefly restarted Anaheim's third-period push, making the 4–1 deficit feel manageable before momentum stalled again.
Joel Farabee2nd
CGY, L
1G 1A2 SOG+2 in 15:42
Farabee's assist on Gridin and his own equalizer in the first gave Calgary the platform for the second-period surge.
Devin Cooley3rd
CGY, G
SV% 0.92336 saves
Facing 39 shots and conceding 0.90 goals below average, Cooley kept Calgary viable while their skaters were heavily outshot.
"
Husso's 2.10 goals above average on 19 shots handed a seventh-place team a regulation win in a playoff race they have no stake in.
