Markstrom delivers a top-shelf, 33-save performance in his return from a broken finger
Of all the players facing their former team in the Calgary Flames’ 3-1 victory over the Florida Panthers Monday night, it was the one whose time goes the furthest back who was the biggest factor.
Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom stopped 33 shots, including a highlight-reel worthy pad stop on Sam Bennett when it was a one-goal game with less than two minutes remaining.
“It’s been more than 10 years,” Markstrom said. “Yeah, that was a while ago. It’s a big win for us. I think there’s just one guy, (Aleksander) Barkov, that was there when I was.”
It was Markstrom first game back in action after missing two weeks due to a broken finger on his blocker hand. He was less active handling the puck compared to usual, but otherwise showed no ill effects.
“When he’s fresh, he’s really good,” coach Ryan Huska said of Markstrom. “I feel he’s been that way for almost every game he’s played for us this year, but he was different. He was different this morning and he gave that confidence to the group in front of him that he was going to make the saves."”
It wasn’t a pretty game from start to finish, but the Flames were full marks in handing the Panthers a third loss in four outings.
Martin Pospisil opened the scoring, Mikael Backlund netted the eventual game-winner with a short-handed goal early in the third period and Blake Coleman was awarded a short-handed empty netter because he was tripped as he attempted to shoot on a breakaway chance.
Markstrom, however, was deservedly named the game’s first star.
“He was great. He played really well, really solid,” Backlund said. “Great to see him come in the first game back and play really well.”
The Flames (13-14-5) finish their pre-holiday-season portion of the schedule with a road trip to face the Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings.