Flames goaltender shows why trade talk won't stop as he overcomes early mistake to lead team to victory over Bruins

The talk heading into Thursday night’s game was about Calgary Flames defenceman Noah Hanifin’s potential fit as a trade target for the Boston Bruins. But Jacob Markstrom changed that narrative with a performance that easily upped his value for any team looking for a goaltender.

The Flames certainly won’t be parting with their Vezina worthy netminder for anything less than top value as Markstrom continued to be the team’s MVP with a 31-save night to help Calgary beat Boston 3-2 in overtime.

The extra frame was electric and Markstrom was at his best in the three-on-three action as the teams traded opportunities until Nazem Kadri finally made good on a perfect shot on a three-on-one with a little more than a minute remaining.

Markstrom made a couple of huge stops in the OT on odd-man rushes. He denied defenceman Charlie McAvoy, then after he failed to connect with his glove pass up to Hanifin, got back into position to make a crazy cross-ice stop on Jesper Boqvist.

He got some help from his crossbar, too, after taking a shot from Mason Lohrei — a popular trade chip in the Hanifin talk — off the torso then off the iron.

Kadri ended things moments later, looking off both his Flames teammates on the final rush.

Asked if he enjoyed the wild nature of overtime, Markstrom offered a trademark deadpan, one-word, honest-as-hell answer.

“No,” he told reporters, who burst out laughing to fill the seconds of silence that followed.

“I’d rather play five-on-five,” Markstrom finally continued.

The crowd definitely loved it, which the goalie acknowledged.

“It was loud tonight. Big win for us.”

The Flames and Bruins were back and forth all night, with both netminders playing stellar hockey to back their boys up. Linus Ullmark made 27 stops at the opposite end of the ice, and three-fifths of the scoring took place in the first period.

Flames defenceman Oliver Kylington opened the scoring for a second straight game, netting his second of the season 12:55 into the contest.

One of Markstrom’s rare misplays this season led to the tying goal by Charlie Coyle, but the Flames recovered the lead quickly when Martin Pospisil poked a rebound past Ullmark in the final minute of the first.

Coyle tied it up again in the third period, sneaking past both Flames defenceman and making a nice move to beat Markstrom — but the Flames goalie made sure he wasn’t beat again.

“Marky made some great saves in that one,” Kadri said of his backstop. “You see him battle like that, it makes you want to push a little harder for him. It’s good to see everyone rally.

“I was exhausted by the end of that one. Just an absolute track meet.”