Parker Kelly led the Colorado Avalanche to victory with two goals as they defeated the Calgary Flames 4-2 on Friday night at Scotiabank Saddledome. This marked Kelly's second career two-goal game, the first being back on March 5, 2022, with the Ottawa Senators against the Arizona Coyotes. The win extends the Avalanche's impressive run to eight games without a loss, registering seven wins and one overtime loss (7-0-1). With the win, Colorado has now narrowed the gap to just three points behind the Dallas Stars for the second place spot in the Central Division.
The Avalanche kicked off the scoring when Ryan Lindgren found the back of the net at 13:21 of the first period, marking his first goal after going 28 games without scoring. Colorado then built on their lead when Parker Kelly scored his first of the night at 15:23 of the second period, taking advantage of some Flames defensive missteps. Kelly's performance was particularly noteworthy as he had struggled for much of the season, entering the game with no goals over his last 20 appearances.
Despite the Avalanche holding firm with a 2-0 lead after two periods, the Flames struck back early in the third. Blake Coleman scored at 3:08 to put Calgary on the board. The momentum, though, was short-lived as Kelly responded just two minutes later, netting his second goal at 5:55, which proved to be the game-winner. Calgary's Jonathan Huberdeau would later score on the power play at 16:22, but Valeri Nichushkin sealed the deal with an empty-net goal with 1:39 left on the clock.
Scott Wedgewood was solid between the pipes for Colorado, making 22 saves and improving his personal record to 9-6-1. Meanwhile, Flames goalie Dustin Wolf faced 24 shots, falling to 22-13-5. This loss snapped Calgary’s impressive streak of five consecutive games gaining points, now showing their record at 2-1-3 during their last six outings.
"It was nice to get back on the scoresheet, but I'm just going to play my game no matter what it is," Kelly said after the game, expressing his relief to break the goal drought. Initially deployed as center for much of the season, Kelly transitioned to right wing post trade deadline, allowing him to utilize his physicality more effectively and increase his contributions, according to Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar.
Kelly’s offensive resurgence couldn’t come at a more important time as the Avalanche ramp up their momentum heading toward the playoffs. They’ve climbed remarkably, and their next contest is against the same Dallas Stars on March 16. “Just one game at a time,” said Kelly on maintaining focus for the upcoming matches.
Calgary was without captain Mikael Backlund due to injury, breaking his iron man streak at 328 games. This loss is significant for the Flames as they now find themselves tied with the Vancouver Canucks for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
After the game, coach Bednar praised Kelly, stating, “He’s been awesome for us all year,” reflecting on Kelly’s adaptability and performance driven by the team’s trust. The atmosphere as teams approach the playoff stretch intensifies, making every game count even more.
"It's always good to play well here; it must be the Alberta air," Kelly joked, referencing his past playing history at the Saddledome during his junior league days. With the Avalanche displaying their strengths at this point in the season, the anticipation for playoff hockey is palpable. Kelly, who experienced the postseason with Ottawa before, is focused and eager for the opportunity, stating, "I've watched playoff hockey and just to see the atmosphere... it looks like war out there, so it would be really fun to play in."
Looking forward, the Avalanche are preparing for their home encounter with the Dallas Stars, aiming to consolidate their position and continue their current success. On the other hand, the Flames will be embarking on a challenging four-game road trip, starting with the Toronto Maple Leafs.