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Toffoli scores twice, including OT winner, as Flames beat Canucks to keep playoff hopes alive

Toffoli scores twice, including OT winner, as Flames beat Canucks to keep playoff hopes alive

Tyler Toffoli scored his second goal of the game 3:27 into overtime and the visiting Calgary Flames came all the way back for a 5-4 win against the Vancouver Canucks on Friday.

Troy Stecher scored and contributed an assist for the Flames (35-26-15) in regulation, while Blake Coleman and Jonathan Huberdeau also had goals. Mikael Backlund chipped in with two helpers.

Elias Pettersson, Conor Garland, Anthony Beauvillier and Aidan McDonough — with his first NHL goal — all found the back of the net for the Canucks (34-34-7).

Jacob Markstrom had 14 saves for Calgary, who won a third straight game for the first time since Dec. 7.

The Flames remain two points out of a playoff position with five games left in the regular season.

WATCH | Toffoli lifts Flames over Canucks in OT:

Toffoli’s overtime winner gives Flames massive win over Canucks

Tyler Toffoli’s goal in the extra frame gave Calgary a much needed two points in a 5-4 win over Vancouver Friday night.

It was a busy night in net for Vancouver goalie Thatcher Demko, who stopped 36 of 41 shots.

Backlund sprung Toffoli for a breakaway in overtime and the Flames winger made no mistakes, putting a shot up and over Demko to end the game.

The Flames forced extra time with a late power-play goal after Pettersson was called for high-sticking.

Noah Hanifin sent a hard shot off the end boards from the point and the puck bounced to Huberdeau, who fired a rocket in past Demko from the bottom of the faceoff circle, tying the game at 4-4 at the 16:47 mark.

Flames were one-for-six with the man advantage Friday and the Canucks went one-for-two.

Calgary outshot the home side 15-6 across the second, but Vancouver took a one-goal lead into the locker-room.

Nils Aman set up the Canucks’ fourth goal of the night, finding Beauvillier at the side of the net off a two-on-one. The winger then fired a quick shot in behind Markstrom to give Vancouver a 4-3 cushion at the 16:06 mark.

The Flames levelled the score just 14 seconds earlier when Nazem Kadri sent a cross-ice pass to Stecher and the former Canucks defenceman sent a wrist shot in past Demko for his second goal of the season.

Calgary had a prime opportunity to add to its total earlier in the period when Vancouver’s Tyler Myers hooked Huberdeau on a breakaway and the Flames forward was awarded a penalty shot.

Huberdeau tried to outwait Demko, only to see the goalie stretch out and stop his shot from the side of the net with his skate.

McDonough scores 1st NHL goal

The Canucks took a 3-2…

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