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 The Swedish center scored 35 seconds into overtime Thursday to give
the Flames a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers in a game
involving two struggling teams.
Flyers goaltender Michal Neuvirth made an initial save on left
winger Johnny Gaudreau, but the puck bounced in off Backlund.
"It went in off my (abdomen) -- stomach and in -- and I'll take it,"
Backlund said. "I haven't had the best start for the team so it's
nice to get the game winner."
Right winger Josh Jooris also scored for the Flames (4-9-1), winners
for just the third time in eight home starts.
Left winger Michael Raffl scored for the Flyers (4-7-2), who have
lost six straight and wrap up a four-game road trip in Winnipeg on
Saturday.
Flames goaltender Karri Ramo made 26 saves while Neuvirth made 28.
Jooris' goal came at 4:40 of the first. He was stopped on a
breakaway after stepping out of the penalty box, but swept in the
rebound.
Raffl took a pass from behind the net from center Claude Giroux and
squeezed a shot under Ramo's arm with 36 seconds left in the second
period to make it 1-1.
Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol was positive in the face of another
loss.
"This was a gutty road effort," he said. "When things aren't going
well you have to find a way and you have to push to get over the
hump.
"We get the first two opportunities in OT and it comes right back
and our goaltender makes a good save and it goes off a shin pad and
into the net. That's the way it's been going."
Giroux said the Flyers looked better as a team than in recent games.
"We did a lot of good things," he said. "Offensively we generated
more offence and it's an improvement. We have to keep improving."
Ramo struggled to start the season and was placed on waivers on Oct.
21 and spent seven days with the AHL's Stockton Flames before being
recalled. He was 1-4 with a 4.43 goals-against average coming into
the game; his only other win came Halloween night in a 5-4 decision
against Edmonton.
"Today was a solid game from everybody," Ramo said. "We didn't make
too many mistakes. We didn't give them chances. They had to earn
everything they got. That's the key to winning games in the long run
in this league."
Though they struggled defensively to start the year, the Flames gave
head coach Bob Hartley a solid night in their own end against the
Flyers and he recognized that.
"This was a total team effort. Defensively we were strong. This was
our best all-round game," he said.
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"There were some waves out there but at the same time we were
composed in our own zone. We didn't give Grade A chances and we kept
them to the outside."
The three goalies used by the Flames this year -- injured Jonas
Hiller (3.67 GAA in seven games) and Joni Ortio (4.26 GAA in four)
-- have combined to surrender a league-high 56 goals through 14
games.
From Ramo's perspective the night was a step in the right direction
heading into Saturday's home game against Sidney Crosby and the
Pittsburgh Penguins.
"The next game is going to be another huge challenge for us and we
have to find the balance between offense and defense," he said.
"We have to find the right mix on how to play the game and today was
a step forward."
NOTES: C Sean Couturier returned to the Flyers lineup after missing
six games due to a concussion. ... Absent for Philadelphia because
of injury were LW Pierre-Edouard Bellemere (lower body) and D Evgeny
Medvedev (lower body). Scratches were C Sam Gagner and D Davis
Drewiske, who was a recall from the AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms on
Wednesday. ... The Flames injured list included C Lance Bouma
(broken leg), LW Micheal Ferland (lower body) and G Jonas Hiller
(lower body). Scratches were LW Mason Raymond and D Ladislav Smid.
... The Flames gave their junior team a boost Thursday, reassigning
6-foot-7, 250-pound D Keegan Kanzig, 20, to the Western Hockey
League's Calgary Hitmen from their AHL affiliate in Stockton, Calif.
... The Flyers used Hitmen G Brendan Burke, who is the son of former
NHL G Sean Burke, for the morning skate on Thursday. G Steve Mason
was reportedly ill but was able to serve as G Michal Neuvirth's
backup in the game. Burke was a sixth round choice of the Arizona
Coyotes in 2013. ... The Flames now get ready to host the Pittsburgh
Penguins on Saturday before heading out on a four-game road trip.
... The road-weary Flyers close out a five-game road trip against
the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday, which wraps up a stretch of seven
games in 12 days.
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