Rasmus Andersson and Mikael Backlund used to enjoy Elias Lindholm’s company. The Swedes were tight when they all played together for the Calgary Flames.
On Thursday night, though, Lindholm was the enemy. And he got the best of both his countrymen and his former Flames team to lock up a 4-3 overtime win for his Boston Bruins.
It spoiled another Flames comeback, although the visitors were able to salvage a point thanks to another strong third period — their resilient trademark this year.
Lindholm won a puck battle behind the net, stealing it from Andersson. He fed Brad Marchand in the slot and the Bruins captain got two shots off on Flames goalie Dustin Wolf as Backlund attempted to check him.
Game over.
But if not for Wolf’s excellent play in the back half of his first consecutive starts of the young season, the Calgary Flames would likely have lost this game in regulation.
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Things nearly went off the rails in the second period, but the 23-year-old Wolf was sharp, making a baker’s dozen 13 of his 34 saves on the night in a middle frame that saw the Bruins take a 3-1 lead.
Wolf was essential to the third-period comeback that earned them an important point during the early November road trip that next stops in Buffalo. Yegor Sharangovich scored on an early third-period powerplay with Marchand in the box, then Nazem Kadri scored the tying goal about halfway through to set up the Swedish showdown at the end.
The Calgary Flames goaltender was outstanding in overtime as well. He made the first save on Marchand in the dying seconds, but couldn’t make another.
That’s on his teammates, who were simply beat in the reunion.