Coyotes fall to Flames in OT despite stellar return by Smith
CALGARY, Alberta -- Michael Frolik scored 49 seconds into overtime to give the Calgary Flames a 2-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday night.
Frolik stole the puck from Brad Richardson after a faceoff in the Flames' end and skated in at top speed and ripped a shot inside the post on Coyotes goalie Mike Smith.
Matthew Tkachuk scored in regulation for Calgary, which snapped a three-game home skid. Chad Johnson started for the second straight night and finished with 20 saves.
Tobias Rieder scored for Arizona and Smith, back after missing 12 games with a knee injury, stopped 22 shots.
Rieder gave the Coyotes the lead with 18 seconds remaining in the second period as he pounced on the rebound of Justin Martinook's shot and buried it behind Johnson.
Calgary, limited to 13 shots through the first 40 minutes, tied it at 6:40 of the third as Tkachuk fired a shot from a sharp angle just above the goal line under the crossbar for his fourth.
The Flames controlled play ijn the third but couldn't get a go-ahead goal. Among Smith's stops in the period was a stick save on Dennis Wideman and a sharp pad stop on Troy Brouwer.
After an uneventful and scoreless first period, Calgary went to the attack to begin the second. On the opening shift, Tkachuk shot wide on a partial breakaway, Smith jabbed out a pad to deny Frolik from in-tight and TJ Brodie's wrist shot from the low slot was turned aside.
Five minutes later, Frolik had another dangerous chance from in front only to be thwarted again, this time Smith throwing up his glove to stab Frolik's snap shot from 20 feet out.
It was the first game in what will be an extended stretch for Calgary without leading scorer Johnny Gaudreau, who underwent finger surgery on Wednesday after getting injured Tuesday night in Minnesota.
Sam Bennett took his spot on the top line with Sean Monahan and Brouwer.
NOTES: Linden Vey was inserted into the forward spot opened up by Gaudreau's injury. ... Arizona's Martin Hanzal (lower body) returned after missing six games. ... Defensemen Luke Schenn and Kevin Connauton returned to the Coyotes' lineup with Connor Murphy and rookie Jakob Chychrun taking a seat.
UP NEXT
Coyotes: At Vancouver on Thursday night. Watch on FOX Sports Arizona and FOX Sports GO.
