Aydar Suniev Shines as Flames Beat Wild 2-1 in NHL

The Calgary Flames continued their recent improvement with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night, October 22, 2026. Aydar Suniev and Joel Farabee scored power-play goals in the first period, while goaltender Devin Cooley delivered an outstanding performance to help Calgary secure consecutive wins for the first time this season.

Suniev continued his impressive start to the campaign by opening the scoring at a crucial stage of the first period. The 21-year-old forward has quickly become a player to watch for Calgary, finding the net for the third time in five games after entering the season without a goal in seven career NHL appearances.

Farabee added another goal on the power play to give the Flames a two-goal cushion before the first period ended. Although Minnesota responded in the third period through Michael McCarron, Calgary held on for the victory thanks largely to Cooley’s 36 saves, including several important stops during the final minutes.

The result marked a positive step for the Flames, who had struggled to establish consistency earlier in the season. For Minnesota, meanwhile, the defeat extended a difficult road trip after the Wild had suffered an overtime loss against the Edmonton Oilers two nights earlier.

Aydar Suniev Opens the Scoring for Calgary

Suniev once again demonstrated his scoring ability by giving Calgary the lead during a first-period power play. With 9:11 remaining in the opening period, the Flames capitalised on their numerical advantage to break through Minnesota’s defence.

Adam Klapka controlled the puck behind the net before delivering a pass to Suniev in the slot. The young forward reacted quickly, firing a wrist shot past Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt to put Calgary ahead 1-0.

The goal continued a promising run for Suniev, who has scored three times in five games this season. His early-season production is particularly notable because he had not scored in his first seven career NHL appearances before the current campaign.

At just 21 years old, Suniev is working to establish himself as a productive contributor at the highest level. His recent scoring form offers encouragement for the Flames, who need consistent offensive production from their forward group to build momentum throughout the season.

His goal also highlighted the importance of Calgary’s special teams. The Flames made effective use of their first-period power-play opportunity, moving the puck into a dangerous area and allowing Suniev to finish from the slot.

Scoring first gave Calgary an early advantage and helped establish the pace of the contest. Minnesota had opportunities to respond, but the Flames maintained their pressure and added another goal before the opening period concluded.

Joel Farabee Doubles the Flames’ Lead

Calgary struck again on the power play with 5:54 remaining in the first period, extending its lead to 2-0 through Farabee’s first goal of the season.

The scoring sequence began when Morgan Frost unleashed a one-timer from the right circle. Wallstedt made the initial save, preventing Frost from scoring directly, but the rebound remained available in front of the net.

Farabee reacted to the loose puck and capitalised on the opportunity, punching his shot past Wallstedt to give the Flames a two-goal advantage.

The goal was important for both the scoreboard and Farabee’s individual campaign. After going without a goal in the early part of the season, the forward finally opened his account and provided Calgary with valuable insurance.

The sequence also underlined the value of creating second-chance opportunities. Although Wallstedt initially stopped Frost’s attempt, the Flames maintained pressure around the net and ensured that the rebound did not go to waste.

By scoring twice on the power play in the first period, Calgary gave itself a strong foundation for the remainder of the game. The Flames did not add another goal, but their early advantage ultimately proved sufficient to secure the two points.

Devin Cooley Delivers a Match-Winning Performance

While Suniev and Farabee supplied the goals, Cooley was central to Calgary’s victory. The Flames goaltender stopped 36 of Minnesota’s 37 shots, producing a series of crucial saves as the Wild attempted to fight their way back into the contest.

Cooley’s workload increased as Minnesota pushed for a late equaliser. The Wild continued to test him throughout the game, but he repeatedly denied their attempts to reduce Calgary’s lead or level the score.

His performance became especially important during the final two-plus minutes, when Minnesota pulled Wallstedt in favour of an extra attacker. With an additional skater on the ice, the Wild tried to create more pressure around the Calgary net and find the tying goal.

Cooley responded with several quality saves, protecting the narrow lead while his teammates worked to keep Minnesota away from dangerous scoring positions. The late sequence demanded concentration and composure, as even one mistake could have allowed the visitors to force overtime.

When the final seconds elapsed, Cooley made one last save to preserve the victory. He then rested on his back and looked toward the rafters as teammates skated over to celebrate the result.

The moment captured the relief of a goaltender who had faced sustained pressure and delivered when his team needed him most. His 36-save performance ensured that Calgary’s early offensive work was not undone by Minnesota’s late push.

Minnesota Wild Fight Back Through Michael McCarron

Minnesota found a way past Cooley in the third period, with McCarron scoring the Wild’s only goal of the night. The goal arrived with 15:21 remaining, reducing Calgary’s lead to 2-1 and setting up a tense finish.

Nico Sturm provided the assist, sliding a pass toward McCarron, who unleashed a slap shot from the right circle. The shot beat Cooley and gave Minnesota renewed hope of recovering from its two-goal deficit.

The goal changed the atmosphere of the closing stages. With the margin reduced to one, Minnesota had a realistic opportunity to take the game into overtime if it could find another scoring chance.

The Wild increased their pressure as the clock ran down, eventually removing Wallstedt for an extra attacker. That decision allowed Minnesota to commit more players to the offensive zone, but it also left the team without its regular goaltender during the final push.

Despite the late pressure, Calgary’s defensive effort and Cooley’s saves prevented the Wild from finding an equaliser. McCarron’s goal proved to be Minnesota’s only scoring contribution, leaving the visitors to reflect on another narrow defeat during their road trip.

Calgary’s Power Play Makes the Difference

The Flames’ two first-period power-play goals ultimately separated the teams. Suniev opened the scoring after receiving Klapka’s pass, while Farabee converted the rebound from Frost’s one-timer to make it 2-0.

Those goals provided Calgary with the margin it needed to withstand Minnesota’s response. Although the Flames did not score again, their early execution on special teams proved decisive in a game where offensive opportunities became increasingly difficult to convert.

Power-play production can be particularly valuable in closely contested NHL games because it allows teams to exploit penalties and create scoring chances with an extra skater. Calgary took advantage of those opportunities in the opening period, while Minnesota was unable to match the Flames’ two-goal burst.

The goals also came from different types of offensive sequences. Suniev finished a pass from behind the net with a wrist shot from the slot, while Farabee capitalised on a rebound after Wallstedt stopped Frost’s initial attempt.

Both plays required quick decisions and effective positioning around the net. The Flames converted their chances, and those finishes allowed them to spend much of the remaining game defending their advantage rather than chasing the score.

Calgary’s special-teams success was complemented by its goaltending. The combination of two power-play goals and Cooley’s 36 saves gave the team the balance needed to secure a narrow win.

Wild Remain Winless on Their Road Trip

The loss extended Minnesota’s difficult road trip, with the Wild still searching for a victory away from home during the stretch. Their defeat against Calgary followed an overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers two nights earlier.

Against Edmonton, Minnesota had managed to take the contest beyond regulation but ultimately came away without a win. The subsequent loss to Calgary was another setback, particularly because the Wild were able to reduce the deficit to one goal in the third period but could not complete the comeback.

Minnesota’s 37 shots demonstrated that the team generated a substantial volume of attempts against Cooley. However, the Flames goaltender made enough stops to prevent that pressure from producing a second goal.

Wallstedt also faced a challenging night, allowing two goals on 22 shots. Neither goal came without an opportunity for a save, as Suniev scored from the slot and Farabee converted a rebound, but the Flames’ finishing proved decisive.

For Minnesota, the immediate challenge is turning offensive pressure into more consistent scoring. McCarron’s third-period goal gave the team a chance to fight back, but the Wild needed another finish to force overtime.

The road trip has therefore offered a reminder of how fine the margins can be in the NHL. Minnesota has remained competitive in its recent games, but the results have not gone its way, leaving the team looking for a stronger performance in its next outing.

Jared Spurgeon Returns to the Wild Lineup

Minnesota also received a boost with the return of defenceman Jared Spurgeon, who was back in action after missing the previous four games because of an upper-body injury.

Spurgeon’s return provided the Wild with another defensive option after his absence from the lineup. Having an experienced defenceman available can help a team manage its defensive responsibilities, particularly during a road trip when injuries and fatigue can affect roster depth.

Although Minnesota was unable to secure the win, Spurgeon’s return was a positive development for the team. The Wild will hope to benefit from having him available as they look to improve their results and regain consistency.

His availability is also relevant as Minnesota works to limit opponents’ scoring opportunities. Against Calgary, the Wild allowed two power-play goals in the first period and then spent the rest of the contest attempting to recover from the deficit.

Improving defensive execution and reducing the number of high-quality chances conceded will be important for Minnesota moving forward. The team generated 37 shots against the Flames, but the early goals meant it needed to score at least twice simply to level the game.

What the Win Means for the Calgary Flames

Calgary’s victory marked its first set of consecutive wins this season, giving the team a useful boost after an inconsistent start. Back-to-back victories can help build confidence, particularly when they come through contributions from young players, established forwards and a goaltender capable of handling late pressure.

Suniev’s continued scoring form is one of the most encouraging developments for the Flames. The 21-year-old has found the net three times in five games, offering a promising offensive contribution after entering the season without a goal in his first seven NHL appearances.

Farabee also had reason to be pleased after scoring his first goal of the campaign. His rebound finish doubled Calgary’s lead and helped establish the advantage that the team ultimately defended until the final horn.

Cooley’s performance was equally significant. His 36 saves ensured that the Flames could survive Minnesota’s late push, particularly after McCarron reduced the deficit in the third period.

The win demonstrated that Calgary can combine special-teams production with strong goaltending to earn results in tight games. Maintaining that balance will be important as the season progresses, especially when opponents manage to generate substantial shot totals.

For the Flames, the next objective will be to build on this performance rather than treating the consecutive victories as an end in themselves. Sustained consistency across five-on-five play, special teams and goaltending will be needed to turn the recent improvement into a longer winning run.

Conclusion

Aydar Suniev continued his impressive start to the season as the Calgary Flames defeated the Minnesota Wild 2-1 on Thursday night. His first-period power-play goal opened the scoring, and Joel Farabee added another goal before the opening period ended to give Calgary a two-goal advantage.

Minnesota responded through Michael McCarron in the third period, but Cooley’s 36 saves helped the Flames withstand a late surge. His final stop came as time expired, securing the victory and allowing Calgary to celebrate its first back-to-back wins of the season.

Suniev’s third goal in five games and Farabee’s first of the campaign provided the offensive foundation, while Cooley supplied the decisive defensive performance. For Minnesota, McCarron’s goal and Jared Spurgeon’s return offered positives, but the Wild remained winless on their road trip after another narrow defeat.

The result gives Calgary momentum to build on as the season continues, while Minnesota will look to convert its offensive pressure into better results in its upcoming games.