Rookie Gridin's shootout goal gives Calgary Flames 2-1 win over St. Louis Blues

St. Louis Blues' Dylan Holloway, right, is checked by Calgary Flames' Kevin Bahl during second period NHL hockey action in Calgary on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

CALGARY — Rookie Matvei Gridin’s shootout goal gave Calgary Flames a 2-1 win over the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night.

Connor Zary scored the lone goal in regulation for Calgary (27-34-7).

Dylan Holloway replied for St. Louis (27-30-11).

Calgary’s Devin Cooley stopped 26 shots to snap a four-game winless skid and improve to 8-9-4.

Joel Hofer made 31 saves for St. Louis, falling to 17-11-5.

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The unlikely star performer of the opening 40 minutes was St. Louis video coach Elliott Mondou as three times the Flames had goals waived off after Blues’ coach’s challenges.

Up 1-0 in the first period, Colton Parayko’s clearing attempt up the middle was intercepted by Kevin Bahl, who set up Yegor Sharangovich’s goal. But it was called back when video replay showed the puck got just over the blue line before Bahl pounced on it.

Later in the period, Connor Zary deftly juggled the puck on his stick as he burst into the Blues end before setting up Sharangovich. But coach Jim Montgomery challenged for a missed whistle and replay confirmed one of Zary’s touches came with a high-stick.

Tied 1-1 in the second, it appeared the Flames finally had the elusive second goal when Mikael Backlund’s pass neatly sprang Joel Farabee down the wing and he fired a shot into the top corner. But yet again the goal came off the scoreboard due to Farabee crossing the blue line just ahead of the puck.

Takeaways

Blues: St. Louis had won eight consecutive games against Calgary, which was its longest active streak against any one team. In the Blues’ first loss in their last seven visits to the Scotiabank Saddledome, they gave up a goal on the opening shot for the first time

Flames: Their woes on the man-advantage continue. An 0-for-4 night with the extra man extends Calgary’s streak without a power-play goal to six games (0-for-10). The Flames entered the game ranked 31st in the NHL.

Key Moment

After Farabee gave Calgary a 1-0 lead in the shootout, coach Ryan Huska turned to Gridin after Jimmy Snuggerud was stopped, and Gridin won it with a shot over Hofer’s glove.

Key Stat

St. Louis falls to 3-11 in overtime games.

Up Next

Blues: Visit the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.

Flames: Host the Florida Panthers on Friday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Mar. 18, 2026.

Darren Haynes, The Canadian Press