New York. For twelve seconds, Minnesota had to rejoice that they were able to tie the game in the first leg against Calgary.
Then Rasmus Anderson swept the puck with a delicious backhand that secured the Flames’ third straight win.
– Yeah, it was good timing there. It’s very nice to score a goal right away, the Skåne defender tells Sportbladet.
It was 15:45 of the third period, after the Flames converted a 0-2 deficit into a 3-2 lead and dominated just right, which guest John Merrill pulled home to tie the game.
But like I said – the fans in the stands at the Saddledome didn’t have to get depressed for long.
Just twelve seconds later, defender Rasmus Anderson cruised in front of the box and fired a backhand shot.
– Blake Coleman had such a good pass and I had so much time that I thought I was going to miss the ball, but it went in, says 26-year-old Malmö Bagen on the phone from his hometown in Alberta.
– It was good timing there, and it was very nice to score a goal right after the equaliser.
In the end, Tyler Toffoli put it 5-3 into an empty net as well, thus it was the Flames’ third consecutive win at the Port.
– If this is the first time this year? Well, I guess it happened once before. But it’s very nice to have back-to-back wins again, especially since we’ve lost several matches in a row recently, continues Rasmus.
Who also provided assists last night – while Elias Lindholm had three assists and Mikael Backlund one – and was generally convincing this season.
– Yes, I think I’ve made progress this year, I feel better and better with each game, he stated.