Unlikely Pass Helps Launch Kuzmenko's Three-Point Night For Flames

Andrei Kuzmenko had plenty of reasons to be enthusiastic after the Calgary Flames' win over the Wild in Minnesota on Saturday. Not the least of which was a setup from Nazem Kadri for the game's opening goal.

Kadri — the team's second-leading sniper — is often more likely to pull the trigger from the top of the circle. Instead, he sent a perfect saucer pass for Kuzmenko to redirect the opening goal in a 5-4 Flames victory.

The charismatic Russian who finished with a pair of goals, including a dynamic wraparound winner with less than five minutes to play, was eternally grateful.

For good reason. Amid the most challenging season of his short NHL career, Kuzmenko now has three goals and four points in his last three games. Prior to that, he went without a goal since the fourth game of the season and had just five points in 28 contests in between. He was a frequent healthy scratch before injuries recently forced Calgary Flames head coach Ryan Huska to put him back in for a string of games.

"I probably 100 (times) say to Kadri, ‘Thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks.’ Was really nice pass on the powerplay," Kuzmenko told Flames TV post-game. "It’s a good moment."

Kuzmenko was buzzing early. On that opening Flames powerplay, he was darting around a pocket between Wild defenders, made a subtle stick tap and got great contact on the tip when Kadri sent the puck to him in stride.

"I see a big space for me, I think I need a little bit, go down say, ‘Kadri, pass, pass, pass, please pass!’ Kuzmeno said. "He passed to me, it’s a good goal."

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Later, with time ticking down and the Flames protecting a two-goal lead, Kuzmenko made an even more impressive play to secure the win. He picked up a pass from Yegor Sharangovich but was too tight to the Wild crease to get a good shot off, so he zipped around back and stuck his wraparound attempt into the net — leaving veteran goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury rattled.

The insurance was needed as the Wild scored twice in the last couple of minutes to make things close.

There has been plenty of talk about what the Flames will or should do with Kuzmenko, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Given his struggles this year, the NHL trade deadline return wasn't looking so good. But if the 28-year-old can stay hot, the Flames can expect a few more calls.

"I thought he was moving his feet, and when he’s moving his feet, he’s around the puck. And when he’s around the puck, he’s very strong on it," Huska said. "We saw that tonight."