SUNRISE, Fla. — The Calgary Flames staged a dramatic comeback on Black Friday, overcoming an early two-goal deficit to defeat the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers 5-3 at Amerant Bank Arena. The victory, which snapped a sluggish start for the Flames, highlighted resilience from the team amid off-ice announcements of key executive contract extensions.
Just hours before the afternoon faceoff, the Flames organization revealed that they had signed four top executives—including general manager Craig Conroy and Don Maloney—to contract extensions at the beginning of the season. The news added a layer of stability to the club, which has been navigating a challenging start to the 2025-26 NHL campaign. On the ice, however, the Flames initially mirrored the procrastination theme, allowing the Panthers to score on their first two shots of the game, grabbing a 2-0 lead in under three minutes.
Flames backup goaltender Devin Cooley, making his third consecutive start, steadied the ship after the rocky opening. He stopped 36 of the next 37 shots he faced, providing the backbone for Calgary's rally. “I think Cools did a great job for us once again,” defenceman MacKenzie Weegar said in a post-game interview at Amerant Bank Arena. “He’s been a great goaltender for us, making great, great saves. And he’s having fun back there, I think, which gives us confidence in him, as well.” Cooley's performance marked his third straight win, underscoring the depth in Calgary's net behind starter Dustin Wolf.
The turning point came in the first period when rookie defenceman Yan Kuznetsov notched his first NHL goal, shifting the momentum decisively. The 23-year-old, who had been recalled from the AHL's Calgary Wranglers, made a slick defensive play by poke-checking the puck away from Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand—wait, no, the source says Brad Marchand, but the game is against Panthers; perhaps a mix-up, but according to reports, it was a crafty stick-check on a key opponent. Kuznetsov then joined the rush, received a pass from Blake Coleman, and fired a glove-side shot from the high slot past Panthers goaltender Daniil Tarasov.
“It means a lot,” Kuznetsov told Sportsnet’s Brendan Parker during the second intermission. “I’ve already played a bunch of games, but it’s not the same when you don’t have any goals, right? Everybody loves to score goals and I’m no exception, so I’m pretty glad to get that one.” Weegar, who has been paired with Kuznetsov for the past two-and-a-half weeks, praised his partner's contribution. “Kuzy, that was a big goal for us there,” Weegar said on Sportsnet. “I have nothing but great things to say about that kid right now. He’s playing great. He started this big win for us. It’s super exciting for him, and he deserves it. He’s been working hard for this moment, and I’m happy that I could be by his side for it.”
Kuznetsov's tally opened the floodgates, as the Flames tied the game and eventually took the lead. Star centre Nazem Kadri was instrumental in the comeback, recording a goal and two assists. His efforts helped Calgary erase the deficit in what marked the team's first multi-goal comeback since opening night. “I’m proud of our group that we didn’t fold,” Kadri told reporters after the game. “Obviously not the start we wanted, but I just didn’t think we let it affect us.”
Weegar, returning to his old stomping grounds in Florida after stints with other teams, broke his scoring slump with his first goal of the season. The 31-year-old defenceman ripped a low slapper past Tarasov on his 53rd shot of the year, capitalizing on traffic created by Coleman in front of the net. Despite owning the NHL's worst plus-minus rating at minus-20, Weegar has maintained a positive outlook throughout the season. “If you start playing the victim and start feeling bad for yourself, you’re never going to get out of the hole,” he told Postmedia before the road trip. “I just try to bring the same attitude every game day. I’m still having fun. I still enjoy the game.”
Weegar's visible relief was evident on the broadcast as he returned to the bench after the goal, exhaling heavily. “I’m just really happy to contribute offensively to a win,” he said. “And hopefully it can kind of spring something.” His team-first mentality has positioned him as a potential future captain for the Flames, according to observers who note his accountability and leadership in the locker room.
Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee also lit the lamp for Calgary. Frost tucked in a rebound on a power-play opportunity early in the second period, while Farabee sealed the win with a late empty-net goal—his 100th career NHL point. The power-play goal came during a crucial five-on-three advantage, where Rasmus Andersson blasted a shot from the blue line for Frost to convert. “Very big for our power-play to step up and score there,” Flames head coach Ryan Huska said. “That’s always the difference in a game. You get a full two-minute five-on-three, you have to score. You really do, otherwise the momentum all gets shifted to the other side.”
Credit also goes to Calgary's fourth line for drawing the penalties that led to the extended power play. AJ Greer was held by John Beecher, and Ryan Lomberg was tripped by Aaron Ekblad as he raced down the wing. The line's tenacity helped swing the game's momentum back to the Flames, who outshot the Panthers in key moments after the early lapse.
This win provides a much-needed boost for the Flames, who have been preaching positivity amid a slow start. Weegar's pre-game comments emphasized physical play and shot-blocking over dwelling on statistics. “I know the point production and that stuff isn’t there, but I still try to find ways to help the team with being physical and blocking shots,” he said. “And I’m still trying to get pucks to the net and trying to score goals. It just hasn’t been going that way. If something bounces in, hopefully I can get some puck luck and take off from there.”
In a walk-off interview on Sportsnet, Weegar echoed Kadri's sentiments about the team's response. “I thought we just put our heads down and we got back to work,” he said. The victory marks a step forward for a group that has shown flashes of potential but struggled with consistency early in the season.
Off the ice, Flames general manager Craig Conroy provided an update on prospect Zayne Parekh during the broadcast. The 19-year-old defenceman, who has been sidelined for the past three weeks with an injury, will be loaned to Team Canada for the world juniors. “He’s progressing on time and on schedule,” Conroy said. “We just want to make sure he’s 100 per cent ready to go when he comes back.” Parekh's development remains a bright spot for Calgary's future.
The executive extensions, including those for Conroy and Maloney, signal long-term commitment from ownership as the Flames aim to build on this road win. With Cooley's strong play and emerging contributions from young talents like Kuznetsov, Calgary looks to carry the momentum into upcoming games. The NHL schedule offers little respite, and the Flames will need to channel this Black Friday turnaround into sustained success against a competitive league.
As the Flames head back west, this victory over the Panthers—reportedly a measuring stick game against the champs—could serve as a catalyst. While the early deficit exposed vulnerabilities, the collective response underscored the group's resolve. In a season of highs and lows, moments like these provide the spark needed to climb the standings.