Flames Secure Shootout Win in Unusual NHL Matchup Against Blues
The Calgary Flames emerged victorious with a 2-1 shootout win over the St. Louis Blues at Scotiabank Saddledome on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in a game marked by multiple disallowed goals that added a layer of unpredictability to the contest.
Multiple Goals Overturned in Coach's Challenges
Three times during the game, the Flames celebrated what appeared to be successful scoring plays, only to have each goal called back following successful coach's challenges by the Blues. The disallowed goals resulted from clear violations: Kevin Bahl was offside on one attempt, Joel Farabee was offside on another, and Connor Zary high-sticked the puck on the third. Despite the frustration of seeing legitimate scoring opportunities nullified, the Flames acknowledged that the correct calls were made according to NHL rules.
Flames Maintain Composure to Force Overtime
Connor Zary managed to score a goal in the first period that counted, giving the Flames an early lead. However, Dylan Holloway of the Blues equalized in the second period, sending the game into overtime and eventually a shootout. In the shootout, Joel Farabee and young forward Matvei Gridin each scored impressive goals, while goaltender Devin Cooley made crucial saves to secure the 2-1 victory for Calgary.
"We've all been a part of a disallowed goal, but three straight? That's pretty nuts, honestly," Zary remarked after the game. "I guess that's on us. We've got to work on onsides and high-sticks. It's just such miniscule stuff. Like, it's obviously the rule but I think at the end of the day, you see two and you're like 'This is crazy', you see three and you just have to laugh."
Team Resilience Shines Through Adversity
Flames head coach Ryan Huska praised his team's ability to stay focused and not let the disallowed goals demoralize them. "We have good character, we have good people in our room," Huska said. "I thought we stayed with it even though the three were taken back and I thought we stood up for each other, as well."
Huska added that the coaching staff plans to review the disallowed goals in video sessions, highlighting the positive aspects of the plays. "We'll show them in video tomorrow, because they were nice plays, both of them, all three of them actually, when you look at it that way. We'll build off that because there's things that were done right on those goals."
Context of a Challenging Season
The win provided a much-needed boost for the Flames, who have faced difficulties in recent weeks, including the loss of veteran leaders MacKenzie Weegar and Nazem Kadri at the trade deadline and a position near the bottom of the NHL standings. Despite these challenges, the team demonstrated resilience by not giving up when circumstances turned against them during the game.
Ultimately, the Flames viewed the victory as a deserved outcome after a performance they could take pride in, capping off a weird but successful night that saw them bounce back from a tough road trip where they went 1-4-0. The ability to laugh off the bizarre sequence of events while securing a win underscored the team's positive mentality and determination to finish the season strong, regardless of the standings.
