In a gritty, low-scoring affair at the Scotiabank Saddledome, the Calgary Flames snatched a vital two points with a 2-1 overtime victory over the visiting Boston Bruins on Monday, December 29, 2025. The game-winner, scored by forward Connor Zary on the power play, was far from a highlight-reel masterpiece, but for a team desperate for any sign of life with the man advantage, its beauty was undeniable.
A Power-Play Breakthrough in the Mud
The decisive moment came in the extra frame after the Flames were awarded a power play. The sequence was chaotic: Yegor Sharangovich lobbed the puck toward the net, it appeared Boston defenceman Hampus Lindholm might have knocked it in, and Connor Zary got a touch as well. The result was a goal that broke a prolonged and painful drought for Calgary's special teams.
"We hope so," Flames head coach Ryan Huska said when asked if the ugly goal could spark his power-play unit. "You get into games like this where it’s in the mud a lot and you get an advantage, you have to find a way to capitalize... It’s something we have to improve. It has to get better for us because the tight games we’re in right now, you have to find a way for your power-play to be the difference in games."
Context of a Critical Struggle
The relief was palpable because, prior to Zary's overtime heroics, the Flames' power play had been historically anemic. They had converted just 1 of their last 24 opportunities over the preceding eight games. For the entire season, their success rate sat at a league-worst 13.6%. The team had shuffled personnel in search of a solution, but with little to show for it.
"Shifting the personnel around, I don’t like doing because much like keeping lines together, when you have guys who have been on the ice on the power-play a lot together, they know where they’re going to be," Huska explained. "It hasn’t been getting us the results we need." Against the Bruins, they finished 1-for-5, but the one that counted secured the victory.
Coleman Stays Hot, Backlund Sets the Table
The Flames would not have reached overtime without the continued excellence of Blake Coleman. After Boston's Andrew Peeke opened the scoring, Coleman responded in the second period to tie the game. He finished a precise pass from the ever-reliable Mikael Backlund, firing the puck past Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman.
Coleman's consistent offensive contributions have been a bright spot for Calgary during a challenging stretch. His timely scoring and relentless energy have made him one of the team's most valuable forwards, and his latest goal was a testament to his chemistry with Backlund and his knack for being in the right place.
The win provides a moment of optimism for the Flames, who saw a critical weakness potentially turn into a strength at the most crucial moment. While one greasy overtime goal doesn't solve all their power-play problems, it offers a foundation of confidence and, more importantly, two points in the standings as they navigate the competitive NHL landscape.
