Flames Upset Conference-Leading Hurricanes 5-4 Behind Strome’s Team Debut

Calgary defeated Eastern Conference leader Carolina 5-4 Saturday night, with newcomer Ryan Strome scoring in his first game with the team. The Flames broke a four-game losing streak despite trading away key veterans earlier this week.

Ryan Strome made an immediate impact in his Calgary debut, contributing a goal and assist as the Flames stunned the Eastern Conference-leading Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 on Saturday night at home.

Joel Farabee led the offensive charge with two goals and an assist, while the Flames used a dominant three-goal second period to overcome an early deficit and end their four-game losing streak.

Morgan Frost contributed one goal and two assists, and Blake Coleman added a goal and assist for Calgary, which had just traded away veteran stars MacKenzie Weegar and Nazem Kadri during the week. Goalie Dustin Wolf turned aside 25 shots for the victory.

Carolina got strong performances from Seth Jarvis, who recorded one goal and two assists, and Andrei Svechnikov, who had one goal and one assist. Sean Walker and Alexander Nikishin also found the net for the Hurricanes, who suffered just their second regulation loss in their last 16 games.

Sebastian Aho contributed three assists while goaltender Brandon Bussi made 20 saves, seeing his personal nine-game winning streak come to an end.

The Hurricanes jumped ahead early when Jarvis scored on Carolina’s first shot of the game just 44 seconds into the opening period.

Calgary responded after the first break, with Strome – obtained from Anaheim in a recent trade – evening the score with a sharp-angle shot just 19 seconds into the middle frame. Olli Maatta, also making his Flames debut after coming over from Utah in the Weegar transaction, earned an assist on the play.

Farabee gave the home team their first lead four minutes later, capitalizing on a rebound opportunity during a strong Calgary shift. Frost then extended the advantage to 3-1 with a power-play goal at 7:06, converting a loose puck in the slot.

Coleman increased Calgary’s lead to 4-1 at 2:24 of the final period when he capitalized on a Bussi misplay, tapping in the rebound after the Carolina goalie mishandled the puck and Farabee created the initial scoring chance.

Carolina mounted a comeback attempt when Walker scored at 4:41 following a Calgary turnover, and Nikishin brought the Hurricanes within one goal just 62 seconds later with a power-play blast from the point.

Farabee sealed the victory with what proved to be the game-winner, finishing a breakaway opportunity set up by Frost with 2:18 left in regulation.

Svechnikov added a late goal with 11.9 seconds remaining, but Carolina ran out of time to complete the comeback.

The Hurricanes played without defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, who was sidelined with a lower-body injury sustained Friday night in Edmonton. Calgary lost defenseman Zach Whitecloud late in the first period after he fell awkwardly into the boards and suffered an upper-body injury.