MONTREAL — In an exhilarating and tightly contested game, Matt Coronato emerged as the savior for the Calgary Flames, clinching both the game-tying and overtime-winning goals to secure a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Yet, it was the sharp eyes and swift decision-making of video coach Jamie Pringle that truly turned the tide.

With only 8:24 left in the third period, the Canadiens seemed poised to take a commanding 3-1 lead, thanks to Brendan Gallagher's apparent goal. However, Pringle quickly identified the play as offside, prompting a successful challenge from the Flames that negated Gallagher’s goal. This pivotal moment set the stage for Coronato to ignite Calgary’s comeback.

Dustin Wolf, the Flames' goaltender, couldn’t hide his admiration for Pringle's intervention. “I was just saying that a post is normally a goalie’s best friend, but I think the video coach is now number two,” he remarked, highlighting the importance of the coaching staff’s diligence.

Josh Anderson’s setup for Gallagher created a moment of excitement, but the atmosphere in the Bell Centre shifted dramatically when the goal was overturned. Flames head coach Ryan Huska praised Pringle, saying, “We’ve always been confident in Jamie. He’s the best guy in the league… We don’t get this win if it's not for the courage that he showed.”

This is not the first time Pringle has made headlines this season. Earlier, during a match against the Edmonton Oilers, his successful challenge on two goals proved crucial in a 4-1 victory. "He’s hot this year," forward Blake Coleman noted, indicating that Pringle has been instrumental in pivotal moments this season.

On Tuesday night, it was Coronato's time to shine. The 21-year-old winger tied the game with just 2:46 left on the clock, scoring with a remarkable shot that hit the post before finding its way into the net. Even more impressively, he netted the game-winner a mere seven seconds into overtime, falling just short of the record for the fastest OT goal in NHL history.

“He’s had so many chances to score, and he’s kind of been snakebit a few times,” complimented Wolf. “To see him score on two unbelievable shots, that’s a scouting report on him—his shot’s lethal.”

Coronato, drafted 13th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, has been making strides this season after spending the majority of the previous year in the AHL with the Calgary Wranglers. With performances like this, it is clear that he is ready to make a significant impact in the NHL.

“We know how good he’s going to be for us,” said Huska. “We just want to make sure that we are putting him in situations that he’s going to be ready for and able to have success.”

Despite the loss, Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis expressed optimism, encouraging his team to use this close matchup to fuel their hunger for victory. As the Canadiens prepare to head out on a challenging four-game road trip, St. Louis wants his players to harness the lessons learned from this game.

The Flames, now with a record of 7-5-1, will hope to build on this momentum as they embark on a three-game road swing. As the season progresses, it will be intriguing to see how both teams navigate the ups and downs in their quest for playoff contention.